Articular disc of temporomandibular joint

Looks like

A small oval pad of tough fibrocartilage, thin in the middle, sitting between the jaw's knob and the socket in the skull.

What it does

Fits the two mismatched bone surfaces together and splits the joint into an upper sliding part and a lower hinge part.

Keeping it well

If it slips forward the jaw clicks; if it stays forward the mouth cannot open fully. Most clicking is harmless; painful locking needs a dentist or specialist.

Related conditions

• Achondroplasia
• Brain abscess
• Gout
• Haemophilia & bleeding disorders
• Lyme disease
• Marfan syndrome & connective tissue disorders
• Osteoarthritis
• Psoriatic arthritis
• Rheumatic fever & rheumatic heart disease
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Systemic lupus erythematosus
• Teeth grinding (bruxism)
• Temporomandibular joint disorder
• Traumatic brain injury (moderate to severe)