
What are the conditions of the temporo-mandibular joint (TMJ)?
Types of Conditions that May Affect the Temporomandibular Joint
- Osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis (OA) is also known as degenerative arthritis, degenerative joint disease, or osteoarthrosis.
- Jawbone Infections. ...
- Mouth and Jaw Tumors. ...
- Rheumatoid Arthritis. ...
- Post-Traumatic Arthritis. ...
- Tendonitis. ...
What are the symptoms of temporomandibular joint syndrome?
The following are the most common signs and symptoms of TMD:
- Jaw discomfort or soreness (often most prevalent in the morning or late afternoon)
- Headaches
- Pain spreading behind the eyes, in the face, shoulder, neck, and/or back
- Earaches or ringing in the ears (not caused by an infection of the inner ear canal)
- Clicking or popping of the jaw
- Locking of the jaw
- Limited mouth motions
- Clenching or grinding of the teeth
How serious is temporomandibular joint disorder?
Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is a condition affecting the movement of the jaw. It's not usually serious and generally gets better on its own. The pain may be worse when chewing and when you feel stressed. TMD can also stop you getting a good night's sleep. There are some simple things you can do to try to reduce your jaw pain.
How to prevent temporomandibular joint disorder or TMJ?
- Magnesium: Magnesium can ease muscular tension and help in calcium metabolism. ...
- Calcium: Calcium may provide strength to our bones. ...
- Vitamin–B complex: A deficiency of vitamin-B complex is known to cause stress which can lead to TMJ pain. ...

Is temporomandibular joint a hinge joint?
The temporomandibular (tem-puh-roe-man-DIB-u-lur) joint (TMJ) acts like a sliding hinge, connecting your jawbone to your skull. You have one joint on each side of your jaw.
Is temporomandibular joint a gliding joint?
The TMJ is a hinge and gliding joint and is the most constantly used joint in the body. The round upper end of the lower jaw, or the movable portion of the joint, is called the condyle; the socket is called the articular fossa.
Is temporomandibular joint a ball and socket joint?
The TMJ is a ball-and-socket joint, just like the hip or shoulder. When the mouth opens wide, the ball (called the condyle) comes out of the socket and moves forward, going back into place when the mouth closes.
Is the temporomandibular joint a pivot joint?
trochoid joint pivot joint. temporomandibular joint (TMJ) a bicondylar joint formed by the head of the mandible and the mandibular fossa, and the articular tubercle of the temporal bone.
What type of joint is the TMJ quizlet?
The temporomandibular joint is bilateral (one on either side), synovial (filled with fluid from a synovial membrane) with an articulating disc. It is also called a ginglymoarthrodial joint.
What are gliding joints?
plane joint, also called gliding joint or arthrodial joint, in anatomy, type of structure in the body formed between two bones in which the articular, or free, surfaces of the bones are flat or nearly flat, enabling the bones to slide over each other.
What is the example of hinge joint?
[3][4] The hinge joints of the body include the elbow, knee, interphalangeal (IP) joints of the hand and foot and the tibiotalar joint of the ankle.
What are ball and socket joints?
ball-and-socket joint, also called spheroidal joint, in vertebrate anatomy, a joint in which the rounded surface of a bone moves within a depression on another bone, allowing greater freedom of movement than any other kind of joint.
Where are the ball and socket joints?
Examples. Examples of this form of articulation are found in the hip, where the round head of the femur (ball) rests in the cup-like acetabulum (socket) of the pelvis; and in the shoulder joint, where the rounded upper extremity of the humerus (ball) rests in the cup-like glenoid fossa (socket) of the shoulder blade.
What is an example of pivot joint?
The pivot joint is exemplified by the joint between the atlas and the axis (first and second cervical vertebrae), directly under the skull, which allows for turning of the head from side to side.
Why Is TMJ called a synovial joint?
Joint. TMJ is a synovial, condylar and hinge-type joint. The joint involves fibrocartilaginous surfaces and an articular disc which divides the joint into two cavities. These superior and inferior articular cavities are lined by separate superior and inferior synovial membranes.
Why Is TMJ called a secondary joint?
As mammals evolved, the compound lower jaw was reduced to a single bone (the mandible) bearing teeth that articulate with the newly developed articulating surface on the temporal bone. Thus in phylogenetic terms the TMJ is a secondary joint.
What is gliding movement of TMJ?
Gliding, which occurs as a second movement, is a translatory movement of the condyle and disc along the slope of the articular eminence. Both gliding and rotation are essential for full opening and closing of the mouth (Figure 4-3). The capsule of the temporomandibular joints is thin and loose.
What are the basic types of movement by the temporomandibular joint?
Movements. A variety of movements occur at the TMJ. These movements are mandibular depression, elevation, lateral deviation (which occurs to both the right and left sides), retrusion and protrusion.
Why is the temporomandibular joint considered to be two separate synovial joints?
It is a bilateral synovial articulation between the temporal bone of the skull above and the mandible below; it is from these bones that its name is derived. This joint is unique in that it is a bilateral joint that functions as one unit....Temporomandibular jointFMA54832Anatomical terminology11 more rows
What is the temporomandibular joint made of?
The two main bones involved in the formation of the temporomandibular joint are the mandible and the temporal bone. The temporal bone forms the superior part of the joint with two components: mandibular fossa and articular tubercle. The inferior part of the joint is formed mainly by the head of the mandible.
What are the three surfaces of the temporomandibular joint?
The temporomandibular joint consists of articulations between three surfaces; the mandibular fossa and articular tubercle (from the squamous part of the temporal bone ), and the head of mandible .
Which muscle is responsible for the movement of the temporomandibular joint?
Movements at this joint are produced by the muscles of mastication, and the hyoid muscles . The two divisions of the temporomandibular joint have different functions.
What ligaments are used to stabilize the temporomandibular joint?
There are three extracapsular ligaments. They act to stablise the temporomandibular joint. Lateral ligament – runs from the beginning of the articular tubule to the mandibular neck. It is a thickening of the joint capsule, and acts to prevent posterior dislocation of the joint.
How does dislocation of the temporomandibular joint occur?
A dislocation of the temporomandibular joint can occur via a blow to the side of the face, yawning, or taking a large bite. The head of the mandible ‘slips’ out of the mandibular fossa, and is pulled anteriorly.
Which ligaments attach to the mandible?
Sphenomandibular ligament – originates from the sphenoid spine, and attaches to the mandible. Stylomandibular ligament – a thickening of the fascia of the parotid gland. Along with the facial muscles, it supports the weight of the jaw. Fig 2 – The joint capsule and accessory ligaments of the temporomandibular joint.
Which muscle is responsible for protrusion and retraction of the mandible?
The upper part of the joint allows protrusion and retraction of the mandible – the anterior and posterior movements of the jaw. The lateral pterygoid muscle is responsible for protrusion (assisted by the medial pterygoid), and the posterior fibres of the temporalis perform retraction.
What is the lower part of the joint?
The lower part of the joint permits elevation and depression of the mandible; opening and closing the mouth. Depression is mostly caused by gravity. However, if there is resistance, the digastric, geniohyoid, and mylohyoid muscles assist. Elevation is very strong movement, caused by the contraction of the temporalis, masseter, and medial pterygoid muscles.
What is the articular disc of the temporomandibular joint?
The temporomandibular joints are one of the few synovial joints in the human body with an articular disc, another being the sternoclavicular joint. The disc divides each joint into two compartments, the lower and upper compartments. These two compartments are synovial cavities, which consist of an upper and a lower synovial cavity. The synovial membrane lining the joint capsule produces the synovial fluid that fills these cavities.
Where can you feel the temporomandibular joints?
The temporomandibular joints can be felt in front of or within the external acoustic meatus during movements of the mandible. Auscultation of the joint can also be performed.
What is the lower part of the jaw?
The lower joint compartment formed by the mandible and the articular disc is involved in rotational movement—this is the initial movement of the jaw when the mouth opens. The upper joint compartment formed by the articular disc and the temporal bone is involved in translational movement—this is the secondary gliding motion of the jaw as it is opened widely. The part of the mandible which mates to the under-surface of the disc is the condyle and the part of the temporal bone which mates to the upper surface of the disk is the articular fossa or glenoid fossa or mandibular fossa.
How long does it take for a temporomandibular joint to form?
Formation of the temporomandibular joints occurs at around 12 weeks in utero when the joint spaces and the articular disc develop. At approximately 10 weeks the component of the fetus future joint becomes evident in the mesenchyme between condylar cartilage of the mandible and the developing temporal bone. Two slits like joint cavities and intervening disk make their appearance in this region by 12 weeks. The mesenchyme around the joint begins to form the fibrous joint capsule. Very little is known about the significance of newly forming muscles in joint formation. The developing superior head of the lateral pterygoid muscle attaches to the anterior portion of the fetal disk. The disk also continues posterior through the petrotympanic fissure and attaches to the malleus of middle ear.
What is the TMJ?
In anatomy, the temporomandibular joints ( TMJ) are the two joints connecting the jawbone to the skull. It is a bilateral synovial articulation between the temporal bone of the skull above and the mandible below; it is from these bones that its name is derived. This joint is unique in that it is a bilateral joint that functions as one unit.
How are the bones of the mouth separated?
These two bones are actually separated by an articular disc, which divides the joint into two distinct compartments. The inferior compartment allows for rotation of the condylar head around an instantaneous axis of rotation, corresponding to the first 20mm or so of the opening of the mouth. After the mouth is open to this extent, the mouth can no longer open without the superior compartment of the temporomandibular joints becoming active.
Why does my temporomandibular joint hurt?
Temporomandibular joint pain is generally due to one of four reasons. Myofascial pain dysfunction syndrome, primarily involving the muscles of mastication. This is the most common cause. Internal derangements, an abnormal relationship of the disc to any of the other components of the joint.
What are the movements of the temporomandibular joint?
All the movements occuring at the temporomandibular joint involve two basic movements: Gliding movement : This takes place between the disc & articular eminence (disc+condyle of mandible move together forward or backward). Rotational movement: This takes place between the disc and the condyle of mandible. Movement.
What is the joint cavity of TMJ?
The articular surfaces are covered with fibrocartilage. Joint Cavity:The joint cavity of TMJ is divided into two parts by an intra-articular disc of fibrocartilage. It is concavo-convex above and concave below: Upper menisco-temporal. Lower menisco-mandibular.
What is the least stable position of the mandible?
When mouth is opened, the head of mandible comes to lie beneath the articular tubercle. This is the least stable position of joint. In this position the anterior dislocation of head of mandible in the infratemporal fossa may occur due to sudden blow on chin or spasm of lateral pterygoid muscles.
What is the TMJ?
Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the joint between mandible and right and left temporal bones. It is the only movable joint in the head. It helps in mastication and opening and closing of mouth.
What is the ligament that supports the capsule?
Inferiorly it is attached to the neck of the mandible. Ligaments: There are two types of ligaments i.e true ligament supporting the capsule and accessory ligaments. True ligament is the lateral /temporomandibular ligament. It extends from the articular tubercle above to the neck of the mandible. The fibers are directed downwards and backwards.
Which bone forms the articular surface?
Articular surfaces. Superiorly the articular surface is formed by the mandibular fossa on the inferior surface of squamous temporal bone and the articular tubercle in front of mandibular fossa. This articular surface is concavo-convex. Inferiorly the articular surface is formed by the head (condyle) of the mandible.
How to lower the mandible?
It is done by pressing the last lower molars with thumbs and at the same time elevate the chin (the head of the mandible is lowered and pushed back into the mandibular fossa).
What is the TMJ?
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a diarthrosis, better defined as a ginglymoarthrodial joint. TMJ is composed of a synovial cavity, articular cartilage and a capsule that covers the same joint. We find the synovial fluid and several ligaments. The joint is the union of the temporal bone cavity with the mandibular condyle. [1]
What is the cranial surface of TMJ?
The cranial surface of TMJ consists of the squamous area of the temporal bone; it takes the name of glenoid fossa and welcomes the condyle of the jaw. The posterior area of the fossa is known as posterior articular ridge; sideways to the latter, we find a bone portion called postglenoid process. The postglenoid process area contributes to forming the upper wall of the external acoustic meatus. [1]
How does TMJ work?
The TMJ must also work in coordination with the contralateral TMJ to coordinate tandem dynamic function.
Why do they perform TMJ surgery?
Surgical procedures for TMJ are performed for various medical reasons: local and/or systemic disease; trauma; alteration of joint morphology and loss of function. The surgical approach depends on the present problem, on the anatomical physiology, the psycho-emotional need of the patient, the experience of the surgeon, and the pre-surgically pre-established objectives.
When the mouth opens, what is the rotation?
When the mouth opens there is a combination of rotational movement of the discomandibular space and action of the translational discotemporal space; the rotation occurs before the translation . The condyle can move laterally through a rotation and then an anterior sliding of the same condylar structure, and an anterior translation/rotation in the medial direction of the opposite condyle. The condyle can move backward, while the opposite condyle slides forward. The bilateral or ipsilateral TMJ protrusion occurs by anterior sliding
Where does TMJ come from?
TMJ derives from the first pharyngeal arch, where we can recognize a mesodermal part (muscles and vessels) and mesenchyme (from neural crests) for bones and cartilages. The development of TMJ divides into three stages: the blastemic stage; the cavitation stage and lastly, the maturation stage. [1]
Where does the collateral ligament originate?
The collateral ligament consists of 2 bundles of symmetrical fibers that originate at the level of the intermediate fascia of the articular disk and insert at the medial and lateral poles of the mandibular condyle. It serves to anchor the disk to the condyle. [5][6]
What is the temporomandibular joint?
Temporomandibular joints are examined for pain or tenderness; clicking, popping, or grating sounds during jaw movement; limited motion or locking of the jaw while opening or closing the mouth; and bite and facial muscle function. Panoramic X-rays might be taken.
Where is the TMJ located?
TMJ is an acronym that stands for temporomandibular joint. Your temporomandibular joints are located on both sides of your face, just in front of your ears. The TMJs connect your lower jawbone to your skull and assist in movements like chewing and speaking.
What causes TMJ?
TMJ disorder can be caused by injury to the jaw joints or surrounding tissues. Other TMD causes include:
How to treat TMJ pain?
Your surgeon makes a small incision in front of the ear and inserts a small, thin instrument that contains a lens and light. This instrument is hooked up to a video screen, which allows your surgeon to examine the TMJ and surrounding area. Depending on the cause of your TMJ pain, your surgeon may remove inflamed tissue or realign the disc or another area of the TMJ. Because arthroscopic surgery is performed through tiny incisions, there is less scarring, a shorter recovery time, less discomfort, and fewer complications compared with open-joint surgery.
How do you know if you have TMD?
Symptoms of TMD include: Pain or tenderness in the face, jaw joint area, neck and shoulders, and in or around the ear when you chew, speak, or open your mouth wide. Clicking, popping, or grating sounds in the jaw joint when opening or closing the mouth. Pain may also be present.
What is the name of the disorder that causes jaws to pop?
Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are disorders that arise from problems with the occlusion (the contact between teeth), jaw joint, and surrounding facial muscles that control chewing and moving the jaw. Symptoms include: clicking/popping sounds in the jaw, jaws that get 'stuck' or 'locked' in the open- or closed-mouth position, difficulty chewing, and swelling/pain/tenderness in the face.
What is the best treatment for TMJ?
Radio wave therapy. Radio waves create a low-level electrical stimulation to the joint, which increases blood flow and provides TMJ relief.
What are the different types of joints?
It’s easy to see that the body’s joints have distinct movements and abilities. In fact, joints have many qualities that make them useful in their own unique ways. For instance: 1 Hips and shoulders are ball and socket joints. These joints have a round ball-shaped piece that fits into the cup of the other piece. It allows for a great range of movement – think of how you can move your arm or leg in a circle-type motion. 2 The knee joint is a hinge joint. It moves primarily in one direction – back and forth – like a door hinge. Other hinge joints are the ankle and elbow. A hinge joint is useful because a knee that could bend in both directions, for instance, would make running or walking difficult. But, many hinge joints also allow some slight side to side movement, so they aren’t strictly “hinges.” 3 Pivot joints, such as the one that connects the head to the top of the spine, allows for movement around an axis. 4 The hands have special hinge joints that allow movement that is unique to the fingers and wrists. 5 The temporomandibular joint (TMJ), your jaw joint, is a special type of joint that works a little like a hinge and a ball and socket at the same time. In fact, your jaw joint moves out of the center of the socket regularly during normal function.
Why is TMJ so important?
Because your TMJ is so important, jaw pain and problems should not be ignored. If you’re experiencing symptoms of TMD such as jaw pain, headaches, earaches, and limited movement of the jaw, don’t wait for it to get worse. Your jaw joint is too important to be neglected. Contact MedCenter TMJ to learn about TMD and ways you can help heal your jaw ...
What is the purpose of a hinge joint?
The knee joint is a hinge joint. It moves primarily in one direction – back and forth – like a door hinge. Other hinge joints are the ankle and elbow. A hinge joint is useful because a knee that could bend in both directions, for instance, would make running or walking difficult.
Why does my jaw lock?
The tendons that support the jaw’s movement may become overstretched or strained, and the condyle can move too far out of place. This can result in jaw locking, pain, inflammation, and many of the other painful symptoms of a temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD).
What is the pivot joint?
Pivot joints, such as the one that connects the head to the top of the spine, allows for movement around an axis. The hands have special hinge joints that allow movement that is unique to the fingers and wrists. The temporomandibular joint (TMJ), your jaw joint, is a special type of joint that works a little like a hinge and a ball ...
What is the ball of TMJ?
The mandible is the lower jaw bone that moves as we chew. When the mouth opens wide, the TMJ’s “ball,” known as the condyle, actually comes out of its socket in the skull. This socket is known as the mandibular fossa. Then, the condyle moves back into place as it closes.
What is the ball joint in the hip?
Hips and shoulders are ball and socket joints. These joints have a round ball-shaped piece that fits into the cup of the other piece. It allows for a great range of movement – think of how you can move your arm or leg in a circle-type motion.
