The Temporomandibular Joint Flashcards
Name the muscles of mastication
- Temporalis
- Masseter
- Medial pterygoid
- Lateral pterygoid
What does the Temporalis do?
It elevates and retracts the mandible during chewing
What does the Masseter do?
Elevates the mandible but can also protrude
Where is the Temporalis?
Lies above your temporal bone and attaches to the condyle
Name the strongest of the 4 muscles of mastication
Masseter
What does the medial pterygoid muscle do?
Mainly elevates the mandible
How can we differentiate between the medial and lateral pterygoid
The medal pterygoid muscle runs in the same direction as the Masseter but is found deeper than the Masseter and is a little bit smaller
Where is the medial pterygoid muscle found?
Attaches to the medial surface of the lateral pterygoid plate
What is the lateral pterygoid plate part of?
The sphenoid bone
What is the lateral pterygoid muscle split into?
2 heads:
- Superior head
- Inferior head
What does the superior head of lateral pterygoid muscle do?
It pulls the capsule and disk forward during mouth opening to maintain the relationship between mandibular condyle and TMJ disk
It also stabilises the condyle during chewing
What does the inferior head fo the lateral pterygoid do?
It depresses the mandible
Needed in protrusion
Causes lateral movement of the mandible
Where does the lateral pterygoid muscle attach?
Attaches to the outer surface of the lateral pterygoid plate
name the foramen found in the sphenoid bone
- Foramen rotundum
- Foramen Ovale
- Foramen spinosum
Which nerve passes through the foramen rotundum?
The maxillary division of the trigeminal nerve (V2)
Which nerve passes through the foramen Ovale?
The mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve (V3)
What makes up the TMJ
- The condyle
- Temporal bone
- Disk
- Nerves
Where does the TMJ lie?
Just anterior to the ear canal
Describe the nerves found in the TMJ. What does this mean?
They are nociceptive nerves which means they detect pain
What is the structure of the TMJ describes as
A complex synovial joint
What does a synovial joint usually contain
Synovial fluid
What are the advantages of having synovial fluid?
Acts as a lubricant and provides cushioning
Where does the condyle of the mandible sit?
Sits in the mandibular fossa of the temporal bone
Where is the articular disk found?
Between the head of the mandible and the bone of the mandibular fossa
What is the aim of the articular eminence?
It prevents the condyle from popping out of the TMJ
Where is the articular eminence found?
It is a dip of bone found in the mandibular fossa
What is the TMJ separated into?
2 Distinct cavities:
Upper joint cavity
Lower joint cavity
What are the upper and lower cavities of the TMJ separated by?
Fibrocartilaginous articular disk
What does the head of the mandible need to do to be able to move your mouth?
Needs to rotate and translate
In which direction does the head of the mandible translate
Antero-posteriorly
What do hinge movements allow?
Depression and elevation of the mandible
What gliding movements allow?
Protrusion/ retraction of the mandible
During protrusion what happens?
The teeth , condyles and rami all move in the same direction and at the same degree
What does the TMJ have around it?
A capsule
Where does the capsule covering the TMJ attach to?
Attaches to the temporal bone superiorly and around the neck of the mandible inferiorly
Name some join ligaments found in the TMJ
- Lateral ligament
- Sphenomandibular ligament
- Stylomandibular ligament
What is the lateral ligament sometimes called?
The temporomandibular joint
Name the 2 parts of the lateral ligament
- Deep part made up of horizontal fibres
2. Superficial (outer) part made up of oblique fibres
What do the inner horizontal fibres of the lateral ligament do?
They prevent excessive posterior displacement of the head of the mandible
What is found posterior to the head of the mandible?
Delicate vascular tissue
What can happen if the vascular tissue posterior to the head of the mandible is crushed?
It would comprise the TMJ
What can help protect the vascular tissue posterior to the head of the mandible from being crushed?
The inner horizontal fibres
Which could break first the inner horizontal fibres of the lateral ligament or the neck of the mandible
Neck of the mandible
What do the outer oblique fibres play a role in?
Plays a role in positioning of the condyle (head) as the mouth is opened
What do the outer oblique ridges prevent and what does this ultimately lead to?
They prevent the TMJ moving too far due to their limited stretching
As a result the head of the mandible moves forwards on to the articular eminence
Name the accessory ligaments found on the TMJ
- Sphemomandibular ligament (SML)
2. Stylomandibular ligament (STML)
Where does the Sphemomandibular ligament run?
Runs from the spine of the sphenoid to the lingual of the mandible
What does the Sphemomandibular ligament do?
It supports the role of the outer oblique fibres of the lateral ligament in sliding and prevents excessive inferior displacement
Where does the Stylomandibular ligament run?
From the styloid process to the posterior portion of the ramps of the mandible
What does the Stylomandibular ligament do?
May limit excessive protrusion of the mandible but the function is unclear
Name some parts that attach to the articular disk
- Superior and inferior joint cavities
- Anterior capsular ligament
- Superior retrodiscal lamina
- Retrodiscal tissue
- inferior retroediscal ligament
What is the anterior capsular ligament part of?
Part of the joint capsule
Describe the Superior retrodiscal lamina
It is quite elastic
Describe retrodiscal tissue
It is highly vascular
What is retrodiscal tissue essential for?
Essential to joint integrity
Describe the inferior retrodiscal ligament
Cartilaginous so stron
Inelastic
What keeps the articular disk close to the condyle?
The lateral and medial distal ligaments
Name the 2 cavities found around the articular disk
Superior cavity
Inferior cavity
Which is bigger the inferior or superior cavity?
Superior cavity
In which cavity does rotation occur?
Inferior cavity
In which cavity does translation occur?
Superior cavity
Talk through the stages of normal opening and closing of the TMJ
- Mandible pushes the disk anteriorly during opening
- Inferior head of lateral pterygoid pulls mandible anteriorly
- Mandible head is resting in the articular eminence
- Superior retrodiscal lamina pulls articular disk posteriorly during closing until all elastic tension has been expanded
- Articular disk snaps into place in the final stages of closing
Give examples of TMJ disorders
- Clicking
2. Locking
What causes TMJ clicking
Mandible head is in an abnormal position relative to the articular disk (posterior to the disk)
What happens in a person with TMJ clicking
- Opening: The mandible head snaps back into the correct position on the articular diskcausing a clicking noise
- Closing: The articular disk slips back out of place leading to another click
How do we treat TMJ clicking
it usually fixes itself
What causes TMJ locking
Mandible head is in an abnormal position relative to the articular disk (posterior to the disk)
What happens in a person with TMJ locking
- Opening: Mandible head does not snap back into the correct position on the disk and is locked in an incorrect position
- This means opening of the mouth is restricted
Name some jaw reflexes
- Myotactic Reflex
2. Nociceptive reflex
When does the Myotactic Reflex occur?
Occurs continuously to maintain resting position of the mandible
What is a Myotactic Reflex?
A stretch reflex where sensory afferent fibres are sent along a trigeminal sensory nerve into the brain stem
Sends out efferent muscle fibres to the masseter telling it to contract
Why is the nociceptive reflex important
It protects our teeth
What is the nociceptive reflex a response to?
A response to pain caused by potentially damaging biting forces
What happens in the nociceptive reflex
A stretch reflex where sensory afferent fibres are sent along a trigeminal sensory nerve into the spinal cord
Sends out efferent muscle fibres to the digastric muscle teeing it to contract and inhibits the muscles of mastication
This allows you mouth to open up
What is the end result of a nociceptive reflex
Relaxation of the muscles of mastication and simultaneous contraction of digastric muscle causing the mouth to open