title: Bony eminence on the middle cranial fossa corresponding to the temporomandibular joint.
abstract: We report a nameless bony eminence over the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and its possible clinical significance. Forty-two half heads of 21 UK Caucasian cadavers (61-95 years old, mean 84.3 +/- 8.2 years, male:female = 11:10) were used to investigate the surface of the middle cranial fossa (MCF) over the TMJ. The thickness of the bony roof of the glenoid fossa was also measured. A bony eminence over the glenoid fossa was observed in half of the specimens. Some showed a complete oval bulge, which completely reflected the contour of the glenoid fossa. The others showed a bony bulge, which partially reflected that contour. The mean (+/-SD) thickness of the bone in the roof of glenoid fossa was 1.5 +/- 1.2 mm. The mean bony thickness of specimens showing the eminence was 0.8 +/- 0.5 mm, whereas it was 2.3 +/- 1.2 mm in specimens without an eminence. These differences were statistically significant (P < 0.01). The osteological features we describe may be relevant to certain clinical problems. Traumatic dislocation of mandibular condyle, for example, might relate to a weakness of the glenoid fossa.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, School of Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan. atsunoda@mac.com
authors.forename: Atsunobu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tsunoda
authors.forename: Takuro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sumi
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shirakura
authors.forename: Seiji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kishimoto
authors.forename: Keiichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Akita
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D035301:Cranial Fossa, Middle / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000033:anatomy & histology*