BASICRANIAL FLEXION, FACIAL REDUCTION AND TEMPOROMANDIBULAR-JOINT DYSFUNCTION

Although dysfunction is the major condition affecting the bilateral te mporomandibular joint (TMJ), it has defied previous attempts to explai n, predict, or prevent its clinical manifestations. A hypothesis is de veloped that there is an anatomical predisposition to TMJ dysfunction which should be sought in the phylogenetic flexing of the hominid basi cranium. It is argued that the glenoid fossa, caught between an ever-i ncreasing brain size and more ventrally oriented facial apparatus, has become deepened and hence labile to dysfunction.