The TMJ's articular surfaces include which of the following?

The TMJ's articular surfaces include which of the following?

• A. Head of mandible, coronoid process, and mandibular fossa
• B. Head of mandible, articular tubercle, and mandibular fossa
• C. Zygomatic arch alone
• D. Articular disc and capsule

Answer: (B)

The joint surfaces involved in the TMJ are the condylar head of the mandible and the temporal bone’s articulating surfaces—the mandibular fossa and the articular tubercle. The condylar head mates with the fossa, while the articular tubercle forms the anterior boundary of that articular area, with the articular disc between the head and fossa. The coronoid process isn’t a joint surface, the zygomatic arch isn’t a TMJ surface, and the disc and capsule are components rather than surfaces themselves. So the best pairing is the head of the mandible, the articular tubercle, and the mandibular fossa.

The joint surfaces involved in the TMJ are the condylar head of the mandible and the temporal bone’s articulating surfaces—the mandibular fossa and the articular tubercle. The condylar head mates with the fossa, while the articular tubercle forms the anterior boundary of that articular area, with the articular disc between the head and fossa. The coronoid process isn’t a joint surface, the zygomatic arch isn’t a TMJ surface, and the disc and capsule are components rather than surfaces themselves. So the best pairing is the head of the mandible, the articular tubercle, and the mandibular fossa.