Aspects of morphotogy and guidance of the human temporomandibular joint

Examinations of the curvature morphology of the temporomandibular joints (TMJs) in macerated human skulls yielded that in initial protrusive cranial border motion, parts of the condylar articulating surfaces are only functional under force transmission. These areas were found on the lateral-central side of the condyle. In contrast to the Cercopithecus mona, a monkey species, the human TMJ apparently possesses a distinctly higher spatial performance range. (C) 2007 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.