[Temporomandibular fibro-chondromalacia. Physiological basis. Classification on the basis of clinical characteristics and course. Spongialisation (author's transl)].

The temporomandibular joints are neural structures which develop from the cephalic ectomesenchyme of the neural crests. They are analogous to the effector organs. Their lesional abnormalities have two characteristics:--pain sensation,--"foreign body". A classification is suggested on the basis of clinical characteristics and course of articular signs due to temporo-menisco-condylar stress resulting from occlusion problems, and concomitant lesions of the articular fibrocartilage: closed and open fibro-chondromalacia. Emphasis is placed upon the constant dissociation between articular clinical features and nosography. Spongialisation, or the property of regeneration of fibrocartilage from spongy bone tissue fully justifies the technique of condyloplasty to remodel the temporomandibular joints in the presence of fibro-chondromalacia. The future lies in the distinction between fibro-chondromalacia secondary to occlusive stress and that due to primary ischaemia of bone.