title: Morphometric investigation of condylar cartilage and disc thickness in the human temporomandibular joint: significance for the definition of ostearthrotic changes.
abstract: 106 human TMJ specimens from 53 individuals (age: 65-85 years) were examined macro- and microscopically and measured for discal and condylar cartilage thickness at five points defined on a mediolateral axis along the middle dense part of the disc. 27% of the discs showed lateral and laterocentral perforations. In 8% the lateral portion was thinned down to a translucent layer. 62% showed no gross destruction or deviation in shape and thickness. The remaining 3% displayed extensive destruction and their condyles were osteoarthritic. All discs showed a significant decrease in thickness from their medial towards their lateral portions. The condyles displayed either a smooth articular surface (16%) or an irregular and progressively remodelled surface (81%) with histologically normal fibrocartilage. The condylar cartilage did not show a significant gradient of thickness in amediolateral direction. The results support our previously developed working hypothesis, that the joint is seemingly loaded along its entire articular surface and that a lateral disc perforation in older individuals can be due to a physiological process of wearing rather than to a pathological sequel of functional disorders.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Anatomi, University of Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Stratmann
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schaarschmidt
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Santamaria
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology; D002357:Cartilage Diseases / Q000473:pathology; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000473:pathology; D003094:Collagen; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008335:Mandibular Condyle / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000473:pathology; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000473:pathology*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000473:pathology; D019224:Temporomandibular Joint Disc / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D003094:Collagen