Shape and Symmetry of Human Condyle and Mandibular Fossa

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine and classify the shape of the mandibular fossa and the corresponding condyle in different types, relating them to sex and symmetry, in adult human skulls, from lateral, posterior and superior views. The sample included 50 human skulls from 23 to 82 years old, 32 males and 18 females. The condyle and silicone casting molds of the fossa were photographed to assess shape in the three views. Shapes were classified, validated by intra-and inter-rater analysis and frequency, sex distribution and symmetry verified. Shapes were classified as rounded, angled, flattened and mixed types in the lateral and posterior views; and as biconvex, flat-convex, biflattened and mixed in the superior view. Rounded condyle and fossa were more frequent in the lateral (57% and 66% respectively) and posterior (53% and 83%) views. In the superior view, mixed shape presented higher frequency in condyle (59%) while in fossa the biconvex shape (46%) was most common. There was no significant difference in shape distribution by sex. The same shape (symmetry) or otherwise (non-symmetry) in right and left side condyle and fossa were separately assessed and showed various combinations.

Evaluation of Normal Morphology of Mandibular Condyle: A Radiographic Survey

“…e difference between males and females in relation to frequency of the morphologic groups in the current study was not statistically significant. Similar results were obtained by Ribeiro et al [13] However, Yale et al in 1966 noted that a convex superior aspect was more common in males than in females. ey also noted a higher frequency of the convex shape in women than in men, whether seen from the lateral perspective (100.00% vs. 88.33%) or from the anterior perspective (37.50% vs. 18.33%).…”

“…Ribeiro et al . [ 13 ] observed in their study the distribution of condyle and fossa shapes showed greater frequency of the rounded shape in the lateral (57% and 66%, respectively) and posterior (53% and 83%, respectively) views. There was no significant association between condylar morphology and age groups in the present study.…”

Morphological variations of the coronoid process, condyle and sigmoid notch as an adjunct in personal identification

“…In the study conducted by Sahithi et al, common shape of condyle among the males was angled and among the females was round in the South Indian population. [7] The studies reported by Ribeiro et al [18] and Chaudhary et al [19] pertaining to the Brazilian and East Indian population, respectively, had shown that round/ oval shape to be common in both the sexes which goes in accordance with our study but with correspondence with male predominancy. A study conducted by Oliveira et al had shown the round shape to be more frequent followed by pointed and flat shapes, which was a similar finding among females in this study.…”

Anatomical Variations in Condylar Shape and Symmetry: Study of 100 Patients

“…A few authors have examined condyle and fossa morphology in computed tomography (CT) images obtained from patients with TMD and non-patients, describing four fossa shapes (5). Other authors have classified condyle in four types in lateral view -round, angled, flattened and mixed type (6) (fig.1). …”