Kinematics of the equine temporomandibular joint.
Abstract: To develop a method of measuring 3-dimensional kinematics of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) in horses chewing sweet feed. Methods: 4 mature horses that had good dental health. Methods: Markers attached to the skin over the skull and mandible were tracked by an optical tracking system. Movements of the mandible relative to the skull were described in terms of 3 rotations and 3 translations. A virtual marker was created on the midline between the rami of the mandibles at the level of the rostral end of the facial crest to facilitate observation of mandibular movements. Results: During the opening stroke, the virtual midline mandibular marker moved ventrally, laterally toward the chewing side, and slightly caudally. During the closing stroke, the marker moved dorsally, medially, and slightly rostrally. During the power stroke, the mandible slid medially and dorsally as the mandibular cheek teeth moved across the occlusal surface of the maxillary cheek teeth. The 4 horses had similar chewing patterns, but the amplitudes varied among horses. Conclusions: The TMJ allows considerable mobility of the mandible relative to the skull during chewing. The method presented in this report can be used to compare the range of motion of the TMJ among horses with TMJ disease or dental irregularities or within an individual horse before and after dental procedures.
Publication Date: 2006-03-02 PubMed ID: 16506903DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.67.3.423Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research article describes a method to measure the 3-dimensional movements of the horse’s temporomandibular joint (TMJ), the joint that links the jaw to the skull. This method was tested while the horses were eating sweet feed. The research indicates that this method could be useful for comparing TMJ movements in horses with joint diseases or dental problems, before and after dental procedures.
Research Method
- The researchers developed a technique to measure the 3-dimensional guide of the temporomandibular joint, a critical component involved in a horse’s eating process.
- The method was tested on four healthy horses. The health condition of the horses was verified through their dental health status.
- The techniques involved tracking markers attached to the skin over the horse’s skull and mandible using an optical tracking system.
- The movements concerning the skull were indexed in terms of three rotations and three translations (movements).
- To better analyze the mandible’s movements, a virtual marker was devised on the midline between the mandibles at the rostral end of the face’s crest.
Results of the Research
- In the opening stroke (when the horse opens its mouth), the virtual marker moved downward, towards the side the horse was chewing, and slightly backwards.
- In the closing stroke (when the horse closes its mouth), the marker moved upward, inward and slightly forward.
- During the power stroke (chewing down forcefully), the jaw slid inward and upward as the lower cheek teeth moved across the upper cheek teeth’s surface.
- Though the four horses displayed similar chewing patterns, their amplitudes, or range of movements, varied from one another.
Conclusions
- The temporomandibular joint permits ample mobility for the jaw relative to the skull during chewing.
- The technique developed in this report can be beneficial for comparing the range of motion of the TMJ among horses diagnosed with TMJ disorder or abnormal dentition, or for understanding alterations in an individual horse’s TMJ movement before and after dental procedures.
Cite This Article
APA
Bonin SJ, Clayton HM, Lanovaz JL, Johnson TJ.
(2006).
Kinematics of the equine temporomandibular joint.
Am J Vet Res, 67(3), 423-428.
https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.67.3.423 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Mary Anne McPhail Equine Performance Center, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, 48824, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Biomechanical Phenomena
- Horses / physiology
- Mastication / physiology
- Temporomandibular Joint / physiology
Citations
This article has been cited 8 times.- Almarza AJ, Brown BN, Arzi B, Ângelo DF, Chung W, Badylak SF, Detamore M. Preclinical Animal Models for Temporomandibular Joint Tissue Engineering. Tissue Eng Part B Rev 2018 Jun;24(3):171-178.
- Cordes V, Lüpke M, Gardemin M, Seifert H, Staszyk C. Periodontal biomechanics: finite element simulations of closing stroke and power stroke in equine cheek teeth. BMC Vet Res 2012 Jul 11;8:60.
- Arencibia A, Blanco D, González N, Rivero MA. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging features of the temporomandibular joint in two normal camels. Anat Res Int 2012;2012:242065.
- Goldschmidt S, Chew HP, Guy S, Fok A. Characterizing masticatory motion of dogs using optical and electromagnetic motion tracking. Front Vet Sci 2025;12:1625335.
- Jasiński T, Turek B, Kaczorowski M, Brehm W, Skierbiszewska K, Domino M. Equine temporomandibular joint diseases: A systematic review. Equine Vet J 2025 Nov;57(6):1427-1445.
- Clayton HM, Murray R, Williams JM, Walker V, Fisher M, Fisher D, Nixon J, Mackechnie-Guire R. Facial pressure beneath a cavesson noseband adjusted to different tightness levels during standing and chewing. Equine Vet J 2025 Jul;57(4):1127-1137.
- Jasiński T, Turek B, Kaczorowski M, Brehm W, Skierbiszewska K, Bonecka J, Domino M. Equine Models of Temporomandibular Joint Osteoarthritis: A Review of Feasibility, Biomarkers, and Molecular Signaling. Biomedicines 2024 Feb 28;12(3).
- Sterkenburgh TR, Hartl B, Peham C, Nowak M, Kyllar M, Kau S. Temporomandibular joint biomechanics and equine incisor occlusal plane maintenance. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2023;11:1249316.
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