Angiography of the temporomandibular joint ; arterial blood supply to the mandibular condyle via the surrounding soft tissue

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Rhesus monkey sacrificed in other experimental studies were collected and angiography of the branches of the external carotid artery was performed. In the pilot study, positions of some branches including maxillary, superficial temporal, facial and lingual arteries were found to be identical to those of human.Maxillary arteries of the 3 sides and superficial temporal arteries of the other 3 sides were dissected and connected to the outer sheath of 21 "intravenous catheter.These branches were confirmed by injecting water soluble contrast medium (Urografin 76%) via the catheter under fluoroscopy. Every inferior alveolar artery was dissected intraorally and ligated at mandibular foramen prior to injection. Silicone rubber injection compounds (Microfil, radiopaque and blue dye-containing material) were then injected. After the compounds cured, the specimens were frozen in liquid nitrogen and sectioned midsagittaly with a bandsaw. Radiographs were taken and the existence of the blood vessels to mandibular condyle from the surrounding soft tissue was explored. Specimens were then sectioned coronally at the level of condyle about 1cm thick and injection of the dye into the condyle was examined.There was no obvious blood vessels that supply the condyle from surrounding soft tissue and the dye did not entered into the condyle from maxillary or superficial temporal arteries. The result indicates that the arterial blood might be supplied to the condyle solely from inferior alveolar artery via adjacent bone marrow of the mandible. The hypothesis that internal derangement causes lack of blood supply and avascular necrosis of the mandibular condyle should be inconsistent.