The blood supply of the canine temporomandibular joint - anatomical structures

Dogs are susceptible for disorders involving the temporomandibular joint (in the following referred to as TMJ) which need imaging and surgical fixing. Therefore a thorough anatomical knowledge – including the blood supply – is necessary for a more precise treatment. The vascularization is of great importance to properly evaluate radiographic images and to locate the cause of lesions involving this articulation. Based on a recent published paper dealing with cats we are looking for confirmation of similarities in the blood supply of the TMJ in dogs. Therefore the present paper focuses on the blood supply of the canine temporomandibular joint as shown during dissection, two different maceration techniques, CT – imaging and microdissection. A lateral supply by the maxillary artery has been described earlier but as a novum we investigate and describe the medial path to it in dogs, coming from the deep rostral temporal artery, the maxillary artery, the inferior alveolar artery, the rostral tympanic, and middle meningeal artery. For a better visualization of branches we injected acryl into the common carotid arteries prior to dissection. Besides the classical preparatory approach we also made use of a maceration-technique and Dermestes beetle. CT-imaging of the vessels might be useful prior to surgery. In order to check whether or not the minor branches on the medial aspect at the temporomandibular joint can be visualized radiographically a canine head was injected with contrast medium. The images – taken both with mouth open and closed – where compiled in 3D to also achieve a virtual special arrangement of arteries of the territory