"The temporomandibular joint allows complex motions that can occur either symmetrically (the same movement in both left and right joints, e.g., pure opening and closing) or asymmetrically (e.g., some lateral movement to improve grinding) 8. Importantly, the fulcrum of rotation is not the centre of the condyle, but rather lower down, at the level of the insertion of the temporomandibular ligament 3."
Expected headings
"Movement"
"Articular disc"
"Ligaments"
"Normal appearance"
"Anteriorly, the lateral pterygoid muscle inserts into, and blends with, the capsule and disc above, and the neck of the mandibular condyle below (the pterygoid fovea) and is involved in pulling the disc and condyle forwards 3,6,8."
"The anterior part of the disc attaches to the joint capsule. Medially and laterally, it is primarily attached to the medial and lateral poles of the mandibular condyle 6. The posterior band divides into thinner upper (fibroelastic) and lower (fibrous) bands separated by loose, richly innervated, fibrovascular tissue, the interlaminar (retrodiscal) zone, best seen when the mouth is open 1,3,6,8."