RELATIONSHIP OF ARTICULAR SOFT-TISSUE CONTOUR AND SHAPE TO THE UNDERLYING EMINENCE AND SLOPE-PROFILE IN YOUNG-ADULT TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINTS

This study examined whether the overall shape of the articular soft ti ssue overlying the posterior slope and articular eminence of the tempo ral bone could be predicted by the underlying osseous contour in a his tologic model of 51 central sagittal sections of young adult temporoma ndibular joints. Articular soft tissue and bone contours were traced, and osseous landmarks identified on the basis of joint geometry. Soft tissue thickness measurements were made under low power light microsco py. Seven categories of articular soft tissue pattern were identified. The soft tissue uniformly followed the osseous contour in only one (1 4%). A progressive increase in soft tissue thickness from the middle o f the posterior slope to the articular crest was the most common patte rn (35%) but did not describe most of the sample that was more asymmet ric. Pattern was poorly perdicted by the shape and slope of the tempor al bone outline or by dental factors that describe anterior guidance a nd did not relate to disk displacement. The articular soft tissue comp ensated for flatter eminence slopes and osseous irregularities and mai ntained an intact surface. This study has clinical implications for ra diographic interpretation of disk space, condyle translation pathways, and the integrity of the functional articular surface.