[Craniofacial growth under the influence of blood supply. 10. Arthrosis of the temporomandibular joint].

Unilateral and bilateral deformation of the temporomandibular joint was observed in young rats after unilateral ligature of the common carotid artery. They involved both the mandibular condyle and the mandibular fossa and were usually associated with a reduction in the dry weight of the masticatory muscles on the ligated side. This leads to the assumption that muscular atrophy is causally related to arthropathy of the temporomandibular joint. The methodological approach to induce changes in the temporomandibular joint may be used as a model of arthrosis of that joint.