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

摘要

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