[Permeability research of human temporomandibular joint disc and cartilage].
OBJECTIVE
To measure the permeability of human temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disc and cartilage to provide basic parameter for oral biomechanics and tissue engineering, and analyze its mechanisms of pathology and load-release.


METHODS
Confined compression method was used to measure the permeability (k value) of four cadavers' TMJs, which were sampled into three parts: disc, condyle and glenoid fossa with different diameters (2 mm, 3 mm and 4 mm). All 128 samples were tested with correspond diameter indenter.


RESULTS
Larger the sample diameter was, higher the k value became. The highest k value appeared in the disc while the lowest appeared in glenoid fossa.


CONCLUSIONS
In normal condition, TMJ can suffer huge load by decreasing its permeability. Disc is weakest for the higher permeability, it's easy-damaged region is an initiated factor of TMJ disease.
Xu
Xiao-Chuan
XC
Beijing Research Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics, Beijing 100035, China.
Chen
Meng-Shi
MS
Yi
Xin-Zhu
XZ
D002356:Cartilage; D006801:Humans; D010539:Permeability; D019224:Temporomandibular Joint Disc; D023822:Tissue Engineering