COLLAGEN FIBER ARRANGEMENT IN TEMPOROMANDIBULAR-JOINT (TMJ) DISKS FROM HUMAN-SUBJECTS WITH FUNCTIONAL DISEASES - SCANNING ELECTRON-MICROSCOPY INVESTIGATIONS

Twelve articular disks from patients with temporomandibular joint (TMJ ) arthropathy were studied and compared with two normal disks. Scannin g electron microscopy (SEM) examination of the surfaces and of longitu dinal and cross-sections of the disks allowed the observation of the a rrangement of the collagen fiber component in different parts of the d isk. The superficial part of the articular disks appears to be formed by rather compact fibers. The internal portion is usually formed by bu ndles of collagen fibers in sheets, alternating with isolated fibers a rranged in a parallel or irregular way. In some samples, blood vessels were observed. Our investigations suggested that the appearance of va scularization is the first remarkable histological change that can be observed in functionally abnormal articular disks,