Histological study of the extratympanic portion of the discomallear ligament in adult humans: a functional hypothesis

• Published in: Journal of anatomy 2012-01, Vol.220 (1), p.86-91
• Main Authors: Mérida‐Velasco, J. R., de la Cuadra‐Blanco, C., Pozo Kreilinger, J. J., Mérida‐Velasco, J. A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cadaver; Collagen - analysis; discomallear ligament; Elastic Tissue - anatomy & histology; Female; human; Humans; joint capsule; Ligaments; Ligaments, Articular - anatomy & histology; Ligaments, Articular - physiology; Male; Middle Aged; Original; synovial membrane; Synovial Membrane - physiology; temporomandibular joint; Temporomandibular Joint - anatomy & histology; Temporomandibular Joint - physiology; Temporomandibular Joint Disc - anatomy & histology
• ISSN: 0021-8782; 1469-7580
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7580.2011.01447.x

This study was carried out on histological aspects of the extratympanic portion of the discomallear ligament (DL) in adult humans. The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) was dissected bilaterally in 20 cadavers; in 15 cases the articular disc (AD) and the retroarticular tissue were extirpated. The extratympanic portion of the DL had the shape of a base‐down triangle, in relation to the AD, and an upper vertex, in relation to the petrotympanic fissure. In five cases, the base, measured bilaterally, had an average length of 6.4 mm, while the distance from the base to the upper vertex averaged 9.3 mm in length. The extratypanic portion of the DL is an intrinsic ligament of the TMJ, composed of collagen fibres and abundant elastic fibres. We propose that this ligament could act as a tensor of the synovial membrane in movements of the TMJ.