Anatomy of the Temporomandibular Joint and Masticatory Muscles in Roe Deer, Capreolus capreolus

Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate the anatomy of the structures constituting the temporomandibular joint and masticatory muscles in roe deer. Eight adult roe deer heads were used in the study. The roe deer's heads had lateromedial joint faces and an articular disc that had a thin center and thick borders that separated the joint into two free spaces. The masseter muscle, covering the lateral side of the joint, was composed of three sections; the temporal muscle covering the cranial side of the joint was composed of one section; the lateral pterygoid muscle covering the medial part was made up of two sections; and the medial pterygoid muscle, which didn't surround the joint, was also made up of two sections. It was determined that the most suitable place for intra-articular interventions in the roe deer was the caudolateral part of the joint. It was also observed that some muscle fibers of the masseter, temporal, and lateral pterygoid muscles entered and dispersed inside the articular disc, in which the elastic fibers were dense. According to the data obtained, the structure of the temporomandibular joint and the origo-insertio and the compartmentalization of the masticatory muscles were generally similar to those of other ruminants. However, the presence of the masticatory muscles entering-and distributed in the articular disc was similar to those of dogs and humans.