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Articular tubercle

The articular tubercle, also known as the articular eminence, is a prominent, rounded bony ridge located on the temporal bone of the skull, just anterior to the mandibular fossa. It plays a crucial role in temporomandibular joint (TMJ) mechanics by guiding and restricting the movement of the mandibular condyle during jaw opening and closing. The articular tubercle serves as an important anatomical landmark in both imaging and clinical examination of the TMJ, and its morphology may vary among individuals.

Synonyms

  • Articular eminence

  • Eminentia articularis (Latin)

  • Eminentia temporalis

  • Glenoid tubercle

MRI Appearance of Articular Tubercle

  • PD (Proton Density) Sequence:

    • The articular tubercle is seen as a sharply defined, low-signal (dark) curved structure anterior to the mandibular fossa.

    • The marrow beneath the cortex may show intermediate to high signal intensity.

    • Helps define the contour and position of the tubercle in relation to the mandibular condyle.

  • STIR (Short Tau Inversion Recovery) Sequence:

    • The cortical bone of the articular tubercle remains low signal (dark) as in other sequences.

    • STIR suppresses fat signal, so marrow signal is reduced but may still show subtle intermediate signal depending on composition.

    • Useful for detecting bone marrow edema, subtle fractures, or inflammatory changes adjacent to the articular tubercle.

MRI images

Articular tubercle