MULTIFACTOR ANALYSIS OF MORPHOLOGICAL INDICES OF THE TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT IN FETAL PERIODD

With the development of computed tomography and magnetic-nuclear-resonance tomography, it became possible to present an image in numerical form, without dissection to “look” into the layered structure of biological objects, dimensions, distances, diameters, the ratio of the components of the objects under study. Therefore, the use of new visualization methods is of great importance in the study of anatomical preparations. Objective. Determine the topographic-anatomical features of the temporomandibular joint in the fetal and neonatal periods of human ontogenesis according to the latest minimally invasive diagnostic methods. Material and methods. The study was conducted on 15 preparations of fetuses and 8 preparations of newborns by the methods of macroscopy, X-ray, computed tomography, morphometry, craniometry, statistical analysis. With the help of computed tomography scans on the software-hardware complex, the dimensions of the bone-cartilage components of the temporomandibular joint were established and their density in units of Hounsfield. Results. The study has shown that in the fetuses the mandibular fossa of the temporal bone is flat, its depth during the fetal period increases only 2.25 times and in newborns it is 0.717 ± 0.133 mm. The articular tubercle of the temporal bone is differentiated from the third trimester of intrauterine development in the form of an elevation on the lower surface of the base of zygomatic process. The typical form of the head of the lower jaw in the perinatal period is the roof-like. The width of the head of the mandible, during the fetal period, increases in size by 2.03 times and in a newborn is 0.454 ± 0.0568 cm. Conclusions. According to computed tomography, the density of the bone-cartilaginous tissue of the mandibular fossa of the temporal bone in the period of the II-III trimesters of intrauterine development and in newborns changes from 299 to 818 HU, the density of the bone-cartilage tissue of the mandible head - from 112 to 263 HU, which indicates intensive development of temporomandibular joint components. At the end of the 8th and the beginning of the 9th month of intrauterine development, the bone tissue of the head of the mandible is compacted compared to the density of the mandibular fossa of the temporal bone.