Sensory innervation of temporomandibular joint disk.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the nerve endings of the adult temporomandibular joint disk, in particular the presence and configuration of the sensory nerve endings by silver staining and electron microscopy.


METHODS
20 cadaveric temporomandibular joints impregnated with silver stain were studied using an optical microscope; 2 other joints were studied using a transmission electron microscope.


RESULTS
Free nerve endings were found in the disk parenchyma of all joints. Golgi-Mazzoni corpuscles, Ruffini corpuscles, and articular corpuscles were also observed as sensory nerve end organs. Myelinated and nonmyelinated nerve fibres were visualised in the disk parenchyma using the transmission electron microscope.


CONCLUSIONS
Free nerve endings and sensory nerve end organs are present in the disk parenchyma of the human temporomandibular joint and are associated with sensation and proprioception, just as they are in the acetabular labrum, glenoid labrum, triangular fibrocartilage complex, and meniscus.
Asaki
S
S
Asaki Orthopedic Clinic, Fukusima, Japan. M3355@h5.dion.ne.jp
Sekikawa
M
M
Kim
Y T
YT
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008875:Middle Aged; D011984:Sensory Receptor Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D016622:Silver Staining; D019224:Temporomandibular Joint Disc / Q000294:innervation*