Histometric study of synovial cavity dimensions of human temporomandibular joints with normal and anterior disc position

To evaluate effects of internal derangement, the sagittal lengths of the condylar, temporal, and disc articular surfaces, as well as those of the disc attachments, were measured in histologic sections of human temporomandibular joints obtained at autopsy, mainly from adolescent, young adult, and middle-aged subjects. While the upper joint compartment appeared little affected, anterior disc position was significantly associated with comparatively long inferior disc attachments and a short condylar articular surface, indicative of possibly aberrant insertions of the attachments. Such discrepancies in size or alignment between condyle and disc complex could primarily reflect a constitutional deviation or result secondarily from remodeling.