The temporomandibular joint disc of Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) and African elephant (Loxodonta africana) |
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Authors: | Boaz Arzi Vincent P Willard Daniel J Huey Frank J M Verstraete Natalia Vapniarsky-Arzi Kyriacos A Athanasiou |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, One Shield Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA;(2) Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA;(3) Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, University of California, Davis, CA, USA;(4) Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California, Davis, CA, USA; |
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Abstract: | The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a synovial articulation between the mandibular head of the condylar process of the mandible
and the mandibular fossa of the squamous temporal bone. Extensions of the fibrous capsule into the joint space form a biconcave
disc that functions as an articulating surface and divides the joint into dorsal and ventral compartments. The TMJ disc plays
a crucial role in normal functioning of the joint, and differences in cranial morphology, mastication patterns, and diet are
reflected in the material and biochemical properties of the disc. The purpose of the present case study was to compare the
regional histologic differences between two elephant genera and quantify the biochemical and biomechanical properties of the
African elephant disc. This study provides a unique insight into the elephant TMJ disc and also provides a comparison between
the African and the Asian elephant genera. The results demonstrate several remarkable findings. First, structure–function
relationships exist within the elephant TMJ disc. Second, regional variations exist in the elephant TMJ disc, and these are
likely to correlate with its functional requirement. Additionally, it is apparent that some properties of the disc vary with
the specific anatomy, diet requirement, and jaw motion. Finally, in comparison with the TMJ disc of other species, it is clear
that, although the elephant disc is unique, it has properties that transcend and are preserved among the species. |
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