[Source studies on the etiology, diagnosis and treatment of TMJ ankylosis and syngnathia. 1. From classical antiquity to mid-19th century].

The present first part of two of a historical overview on ankylosis of the TMJ and syngnathia covers the period from antiquity to the 2nd half of 19th century. Etiology, case studies and the first therapeutic approaches are documented on the basis of long forgotten and meanwhile hardly accessible original sources.