Mapping the murine TMJ glenoid fossa over development, homeostasis and in response to disease

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) plays a key role in facilitating complex mammalian jaw movements required for daily life. It is formed between the condylar process of the mandible (or dentary bone) of the lower jaw, the glenoid (or mandibular) fossa of the squamosal/temporal bone in the upper jaw and an interposed fibrocartilage disc. Structural defects in any component of the TMJ can disrupt the entire joint, contributing to TMJ disorders. Embryonic defects in the condyle in mice have been...