Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 4 complete abstracts (756 words), 10 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
An articulation between the condyle of the mandible and the articular tubercle of the temporal bone.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Joints, Temporomandibular; Joint, Temporomandibular; Temporomandibular Joints; TMJ.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Joints; Stomatognathic System
- Narrower topics
- Temporomandibular Joint Disc
- See also
- Centric Relation
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 15,039 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Temporomandibular Joint” (counts retrieved 2026-10-31). 2,798 of them (18.6%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is through 1999 with 6,910 records.
Reviews account for 1,239 records (8.2%) and meta-analyses for 96. Randomized controlled trials number 263 (1.7%) as a share of all records on the topic. Randomized trials make up only a small share of this literature, so much of what is known comes from laboratory, observational or descriptive work.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 6,910 |
| 2000-2009 | 2,413 |
| 2010-2019 | 2,918 |
| 2020 onward | 2,798 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 1,239 | 8.2% |
| Meta-analyses | 96 | 0.6% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 263 | 1.7% |
Method: PubMed query "Temporomandibular Joint"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-10-31.
Reading the evidence in anatomy and physiology
Anatomy describes how body structures are built and physiology describes how they normally work, so most findings here are descriptive or mechanistic rather than evidence about treatment. Much of what is known comes from dissection, imaging, tissue studies and experiments in animals, and measurements in healthy volunteers can differ from those in people with disease or at different ages. Normal ranges vary between individuals and populations. Check whether a result was measured in people or in another species, the age and health of the participants, and the method used.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pathological mechanism of chondrocytes and the surrounding environment during osteoarthritis of temporomandibular joint | 2021 | Review article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 132 | cc by PMID 33949768 · DOI · PMC8178251 |
| Emerging Potential of Exosomes in Regenerative Medicine for Temporomandibular Joint Osteoarthritis | 2020 | Review article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 71 | cc by PMID 32102392 · DOI · PMC7073204 |
| Long-term Changes of Temporomandibular Joint Osteoarthritis on Computed Tomography | 2020 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 50 | cc by PMID 32317672 · DOI · PMC7174364 |
| Defining subcellular synovial responses in TMJ osteoarthritis onset via mechanical stress and articular disk derangement models | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 2 | cc by PMID 41813656 · DOI · PMC12979832 |
Pathological mechanism of chondrocytes and the surrounding environment during osteoarthritis of temporomandibular joint [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) osteoarthritis is a common chronic degenerative disease of the TMJ.
- Closing excerpt
- This paper summarizes recent cognition on the pathogenesis of TMJ osteoarthritis, focusing on the role of chondrocyte hypertrophy degeneration and cartilage angiogenesis.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (220 words)
Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) osteoarthritis is a common chronic degenerative disease of the TMJ. In order to explore its aetiology and pathological mechanism, many animal models and cell models have been constructed to simulate the pathological process of TMJ osteoarthritis. The main pathological features of TMJ osteoarthritis include chondrocyte death, extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation and subchondral bone remodelling. Chondrocyte apoptosis accelerates the destruction of cartilage. However, autophagy has a protective effect on condylar chondrocytes. Degradation of ECM not only changes the properties of cartilage but also affects the phenotype of chondrocytes. The loss of subchondral bone in the early stages of TMJ osteoarthritis plays an aetiological role in the onset of osteoarthritis. In recent years, increasing evidence has suggested that chondrocyte hypertrophy and endochondral angiogenesis promote TMJ osteoarthritis. Hypertrophic chondrocytes secrete many factors that promote cartilage degeneration. These chondrocytes can further differentiate into osteoblasts and osteocytes and accelerate cartilage ossification. Intrachondral angiogenesis and neoneurogenesis are considered to be important triggers of arthralgia in TMJ osteoarthritis. Many molecular signalling pathways in endochondral osteogenesis are responsible for TMJ osteoarthritis. These latest discoveries in TMJ osteoarthritis have further enhanced the understanding of this disease and contributed to the development of molecular therapies. This paper summarizes recent cognition on the pathogenesis of TMJ osteoarthritis, focusing on the role of chondrocyte hypertrophy degeneration and cartilage angiogenesis.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 33949768 · DOI · PMC8178251
Emerging Potential of Exosomes in Regenerative Medicine for Temporomandibular Joint Osteoarthritis [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Exosomes are nanosized vesicles (30-140 nm) of endocytic origin that play important roles in regenerative medicine.
- Closing excerpt
- In this review, we looked at the uniqueness of TMJ, the pathogenesis of TMJ OA, and the potential role of MSC-derived exosomes for TMJ cartilage and bone regeneration.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (212 words)
Exosomes are nanosized vesicles (30-140 nm) of endocytic origin that play important roles in regenerative medicine. They are derived from cell membranes during endocytic internalization and stabilize in biological fluids such as blood and synovia. Temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJ OA) is a degenerative disease, which, in addition to chronic pain, is characterized by progressive cartilage breakdown, condylar bone remodeling, and synovitis. However, traditional clinical treatments have limited symptom- and structure-modifying effects to restore damaged cartilage and other TMJ tissues. This is due to the limited self-healing capacity of condylar cartilage. Recently, stem-cell-derived exosomes have been studied as an alternative therapeutic approach to tissue repair and regeneration. It is known that trophic regulation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects under pathological conditions, and research on MSC-derived exosomes is rapidly accumulating. MSC-derived exosomes mimic the major therapeutic effects of MSCs. They affect the activity of immune effector cells and possess multilineage differentiation potential, including chondrogenic and osteogenic differentiation. Furthermore, exosomes are capable of regenerating cartilage or osseous compartments and restoring injured tissues and can treat dysfunction and pain caused by TMJ OA. In this review, we looked at the uniqueness of TMJ, the pathogenesis of TMJ OA, and the potential role of MSC-derived exosomes for TMJ cartilage and bone regeneration.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 32102392 · DOI · PMC7073204
Long-term Changes of Temporomandibular Joint Osteoarthritis on Computed Tomography [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- This study aimed to understand long-term changes of the osteoarthritic temporomandibular joint (TMJ) condyle using computed tomography (CT) and to verify its correlation with clinical characteristics of temporomandibular disorders.
- Closing excerpt
- Occlusal stabilization splint and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug administration were beneficial on the prognosis of TMJ osteoarthritis.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (202 words)
This study aimed to understand long-term changes of the osteoarthritic temporomandibular joint (TMJ) condyle using computed tomography (CT) and to verify its correlation with clinical characteristics of temporomandibular disorders. Eighty-nine patients (152 joints; 76 female, 13 male) who had taken follow-up CTs (mean follow-up period: 644.58 ± 325.71 days) at least once in addition to their initial evaluation were selected. Cross-sectional demographic and clinical data and longitudinal CT images were collected. Data were analyzed by analysis of variance and logistic regression. Overall destructive change index (number of TMJ condyle sections in which destructive change was observed) decreased from 1.56 to 0.66. Improvement was seen in 93 joints (61.2%) and 27 joints (17.8%) worsened. In the pain positive group, both initial and final destructive change index were significantly higher compared to the pain negative group (p = 0.04). Occlusal stabilization splint therapy and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug administration showed a significant effect on improving the prognosis of TMJ osteoarthritis (p = 0.015 and 0.011). In conclusion, TMJ osteoarthritis showed long-term improvement in the majority of cases. TMJ osteoarthritis accompanied by pain showed unfavorable prognosis with additional bone destruction. Occlusal stabilization splint and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug administration were beneficial on the prognosis of TMJ osteoarthritis.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 32317672 · DOI · PMC7174364
Defining subcellular synovial responses in TMJ osteoarthritis onset via mechanical stress and articular disk derangement models [4]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJ-OA), the most common degenerative disease of the TMJ, is influenced by various adaptive, inflammatory, and mechanical stressors.
- Closing excerpt
- These results provide a methodology-oriented resource for investigating the molecular pathology of TMJ disorders and may help guide future studies toward the development of targeted therapeutic strategies.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (122 words)
Temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJ-OA), the most common degenerative disease of the TMJ, is influenced by various adaptive, inflammatory, and mechanical stressors. In this study, we describe molecular alterations of the synovium of the articular disk in response to mechanical and inflammatory stimuli. Using an integrated transcriptomic approach combining subcellular spatial transcriptomics and single-cell RNA sequencing in murine models of mechanical stress and articular disk derangement, we characterized synovial changes associated with adipogenesis, fibrosis, and macrophage activation. In addition, cell type-and cluster-specific catabolic changes were observed under these stress conditions, suggesting potential contributions to TMJ-OA onset. These results provide a methodology-oriented resource for investigating the molecular pathology of TMJ disorders and may help guide future studies toward the development of targeted therapeutic strategies.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 41813656 · DOI · PMC12979832
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article Diagnosis and treatment of temporomandibular disorders [5]
- Research article Imaging of the temporomandibular joint: a position paper of the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology [6]
- Research article Temporomandibular joint imaging [7]
- Research article Temporomandibular joint disc displacement with reduction: a review of mechanisms and clinical presentation [8]
- Research article Mechanobehavior and Ontogenesis of the Temporomandibular Joint [9]
- Research article Prevalence of degenerative joint disease of the temporomandibular joint: a systematic review [10]
References
- Li B, Guan G, Mei L, Jiao K, Li H. Pathological mechanism of chondrocytes and the surrounding environment during osteoarthritis of temporomandibular joint. . 2021. PMID 33949768 · DOI · PMC8178251
- Lee YH, Park HK, Auh QS, Nah H, Lee JS, Moon HJ, et al.. Emerging Potential of Exosomes in Regenerative Medicine for Temporomandibular Joint Osteoarthritis. . 2020. PMID 32102392 · DOI · PMC7073204
- Song H, Lee JY, Huh KH, Park JW. Long-term Changes of Temporomandibular Joint Osteoarthritis on Computed Tomography. . 2020. PMID 32317672 · DOI · PMC7174364
- Shibusaka K, Negishi S, Terashima A, Maemura M, Yoshida H, Hosonuma M, et al.. Defining subcellular synovial responses in TMJ osteoarthritis onset via mechanical stress and articular disk derangement models. . 2026. PMID 41813656 · DOI · PMC12979832
- Gauer RL, Semidey MJ. Diagnosis and treatment of temporomandibular disorders. Am Fam Physician. 2015. PMID 25822556
- Brooks SL, Brand JW, Gibbs SJ, Hollender L, Lurie AG, Omnell KA, et al.. Imaging of the temporomandibular joint: a position paper of the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod. 1997. PMID 9159823 · DOI
- Katzberg RW. Temporomandibular joint imaging. Radiology. 1989. PMID 2643133 · DOI
- Poluha RL, Canales GT, Costa YM, Grossmann E, Bonjardim LR, Conti PCR. Temporomandibular joint disc displacement with reduction: a review of mechanisms and clinical presentation. J Appl Oral Sci. 2019. PMID 30810641 · DOI · PMC6382319
- Nickel JC, Iwasaki LR, Gonzalez YM, Gallo LM, Yao H. Mechanobehavior and Ontogenesis of the Temporomandibular Joint. J Dent Res. 2018. PMID 30004817 · DOI · PMC6151909
- Pantoja LLQ, de Toledo IP, Pupo YM, Porporatti AL, De Luca Canto G, Zwir LF, et al.. Prevalence of degenerative joint disease of the temporomandibular joint: a systematic review. Clin Oral Investig. 2019. PMID 30311063 · DOI
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-10-31; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-10-31.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.