Naidoo L C
Department of Health, Medical University of Southern Africa, Pretoria, South Africa.
Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod. 1996 Jul;82(1):4-9. doi: 10.1016/s1079-2104(96)80370-2.
The theory of internal derangement of the temporomandibular joint involves the anterior displacement of the meniscus, which is thought to be the result of hyperactivity of the lateral pterygoid muscle. There is, however, a great deal of confusion with respect to the attachment of this muscle to the meniscus. This anatomic study reexamines the meniscal attachment of the lateral pterygoid muscle, in particular, the upper head of this muscle.
The anatomic relationship between the lateral pterygoid muscle and the meniscus was examined in the postmortem specimens of 25 males and 15 females between the ages of 7 to 85 years.
In 65% of specimens, the upper head of the lateral pterygoid muscle was attached to the medial aspect of the capsule, meniscus, and to the pterygoid fovea of the condyle. In 27.5% of specimens, the upper head was attached solely to the condyle; in the remaining 7.5% of cases, there were other types of attachments of the lateral pterygoid muscle to the meniscus.
This study confirms that the lateral pterygoid muscle has a variable attachment to the meniscus. The role of this muscle in the displacement of the meniscus is still unknown and further research into temporomandibular disorders should involve the investigation of other structures in the craniomandibular complex.
颞下颌关节内紊乱理论涉及半月板向前移位，这被认为是翼外肌功能亢进的结果。然而，关于该肌肉与半月板的附着存在大量混淆。这项解剖学研究重新审视了翼外肌与半月板的附着情况，特别是该肌肉的上头。
在25名男性和15名女性、年龄在7至85岁之间的尸体标本中检查翼外肌与半月板之间的解剖关系。
在65%的标本中，翼外肌上头附着于关节囊内侧、半月板以及髁突的翼肌凹。在27.5%的标本中，上头仅附着于髁突；在其余7.5%的病例中，翼外肌与半月板存在其他类型的附着。
本研究证实翼外肌与半月板的附着存在变异。该肌肉在半月板移位中的作用仍不清楚，对颞下颌关节紊乱的进一步研究应涉及对颅下颌复合体中其他结构的研究。
