The arterial blood supply of the temporomandibular joint: an anatomical study and clinical implications

Abstract

PurposeThe aim of this study was to analyze three-dimensional images of the arterial supply to the temporomandibular joint.Materials and MethodsTen patients (five men and five women, mean age 36 years) without signs or symptoms of temporomandibular disorders, who underwent contrast-enhanced computed tomographic (CT) scanning with intravenous contrast, were studied. The direct volume rendering technique of CT images was used, and a data set of images to visualize the vasculature of the human temporomandibular joint in three dimensions was created. After elaboration of the data through post-processing, the arterial supply of the temporomandibular joint was studied.ResultsThe analysis revealed the superficial temporal artery, the anterior tympanic artery, the deep temporal artery, the auricular posterior artery, the transverse facial artery, the middle meningeal artery, and the maxillary artery with their branches as the main arterial sources for the lateral and medial temporomandibular joint.ConclusionThe direct volume rendering technique was found to be successful in the assessment of the arterial supply to the temporomandibular joint. The superficial temporal artery and maxillary artery ran along the lateral and medial sides of the condylar neck, suggesting that these arteries are at increased risk during soft-tissue procedures such as an elective arthroplasty of the temporomandibular joint.

Irrigación e Inervación de la Articulación Temporomandibular: Una Revisión de la Literatura

“…Por su parte, la arteria timpánica anterior, que en su origen tiene relación con el nervio auriculotemporal, cruza la zona retroarticular y una de sus ramas irriga la zona posterior de la capsula articular y la zona bilaminar, contribuyendo a la vascularización de la articulación, según estudios realizados en ATM humanas (Mérida-Velasco et al, 1997;Mérida-Velasco et al, 1999). Cuccia et al (2013) en un estudio realizado en 10 pacientes a los cuales se les realizó una tomografía computarizada con medio de contraste, observaron que las arterias carótida externa, temporal superficial, maxilar, alveolar inferior y meníngea media fueron observadas en el 100 % de los casos. Las arterias transversa de la cara, maseterina, timpánica anterior y los ramos condilares de la arteria temporal superficial se observaron en muchos, pero no en todos los casos (70 %, 60 %, 60 % y 50 %, respectivamente).…”

Neurovascular structures of the mandibular angle and condyle: a comprehensive anatomical review

“…These arteries supply blood to the retrodiscal tissue for nutrient supply for the TMJ structure. Not only the MA, but also the ECA, STA, and TFA give off branches to the TMJ [11].…”

“…The development of an aneurysm can be delayed weeks to years after the traumatic injury. Arterial expansion after post-traumatic development can lead to rupture of the artery [11].…”

Imaging of the temporomandibular joint - contemporary clinical and radiological implications

“…Clinical implications for the imaging of the TMJ are various, covering a broad span of possible etiologies, including developmental (hemifacial microsomia, hypoplasia, hyperplasia) [19], traumatic (fractures) [20], inflammatory (juvenile idiopathic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, pigmented villonodular synovitis) [13], degenerative [21,22], neoplastic (benign and malignant tumors) [23], or vascular disorders [24,25].…”