Variation of heads of lateral pterygoid muscle and morphology of articular disc of human temporomandibular joint--anatomical and histological analysis.

To grasp the documented evidences available regarding the cause of the anteriorly displaced human temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disc. With 20 specimens of human TMJ from cadavers, at first the number of heads of lateral pterygoid muscle (LPM) bundles were analysed with macroanatomical method. Secondary histological procedure with haematoxyline and eosine staining and orceine staining were carried out for the same specimens. Macroscopically, in 13 specimens an upper and a lower head of the LPM were present. In the other seven specimens, not only an upper and a lower head, but also a third inner head of the LPM covered with a separate fascia was observed. Histochemically, the specific localization of certain bundles of thick elastic fibres in the antero-medial parts of the anteriorly displaced deformed TMJ disc were observed.