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Relationships between the Temporomandibular Joint and the Middle Ear in Human Fetuses

Departamento de Ciencias Morfológicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense, E-28040 Madrid, Spain

Merida Velasco

Departamento de Ciencias Morfológicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense, E-28040 Madrid, Spain

J. Jimenez Collado

Departamento de Ciencias Morfológicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense, E-28040 Madrid, Spain

A study was conducted, on 30 human fetuses, of the structures passing through the tympanosquamosal fissure. The tympanosquamosal fissure lies between the middle ear and the temporomandibular region. Meckel's cartilage passes through the tympanosquamosal fissure and continues on into the middle ear with the cartilaginous anlage of the malleus. A tract of fibrous tissue arises from the mesenchyme, located cranial and lateral to Meckel's cartilage, that enters from the posterior area of the temporomandibular joint disc to the middle ear through the tympanosquamosal fissure, and attaches onto the area of continuity of Meckel's cartilage with the malleus. Transformation of Meckel's cartilage into the sphenomandibular ligament and anterior ligament of the malleus determines their continuity through the tympanosquamosal fissure. The posterior fibers of the temporomandibular joint disc giving rise to the discomalleolar ligament insert into the anterior ligament of the malleus.

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Journal of Dental Research, Vol. 72, No. 1, 62-66 (1993)
DOI: 10.1177/00220345930720010901


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This Article Abstract Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Rodriguez Vazquez, J.F. Articles by Jimenez Collado, J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Rodriguez Vazquez, J.F., J.R. Articles by Jimenez Collado, J. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?