Review of the Tanaka Ligament in the Temporomandibular Joint. Analyzing its Scientific Validity
Journal
International Journal of Morphology (Revista Internacional de Morfología)
ISSN
0717-9502
Date Issued
2018
Author(s)
Ramón Fuentes
Universidad de La Frontera
Fernando Jose Dias
Carlos Salamanca Figueroa
Universidad Adventista de Chile
Borie-Echevarría, Evelyn
Universidad Mayor
Ottone, Nicolás Ernesto
Abstract
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is composed of bony structures, cartilage, capsule, articular disc, synovial
membrane and ligaments. Some authors consider the "Tanaka ligament" described in the 1980s by Terry Tanaka as an intra-capsular
ligament of the TMJ that unites medially the articular disc and mandibular fossa. The aim of the present study was to analyze the use of
the term "Tanaka ligament" in the literature evaluating the scientific support of its existence. A literature review was carried out under the
terms "Tanaka Ligament [AND] TMJ" and "Ligamento Tanaka [AND] ATM" (Spanish and Portuguese) in the search engines: MEDLINEPubmed,
Science Direct, Google Scholar, LILACS-Bireme and SciELO. Scientific articles and theses were considered in English,
Spanish and Portuguese. A total of 1,355 studies were found, summing up the results of all the search engines, of which 8 studies (5
articles and 3 theses) were selected after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, selection by title, abstract and content. Most of these
studies were discarded because they had contents related to the TMJ and/or ligaments wherein an author used the surname "Tanaka", that
were not related to the Tanaka ligament. Among the 8 selected studies, 6 of them cite text books, 1 cites a video published by Terry
Tanaka and 1 cites a thesis. Most of these textbooks cited also refer to videos by Terry Tanaka and his books. Moreover, most of the
anatomical literature does not consider this ligament as an individualized structure. Although there are descriptions of Tanaka's ligament
in textbooks, the scientific support of its existence is based only on videos and texts by Terry Tanaka. The dissemination of knowledge
associated with this ligament must be cautious, as there is a need for further morphological and functional studies to confirm its existence.
membrane and ligaments. Some authors consider the "Tanaka ligament" described in the 1980s by Terry Tanaka as an intra-capsular
ligament of the TMJ that unites medially the articular disc and mandibular fossa. The aim of the present study was to analyze the use of
the term "Tanaka ligament" in the literature evaluating the scientific support of its existence. A literature review was carried out under the
terms "Tanaka Ligament [AND] TMJ" and "Ligamento Tanaka [AND] ATM" (Spanish and Portuguese) in the search engines: MEDLINEPubmed,
Science Direct, Google Scholar, LILACS-Bireme and SciELO. Scientific articles and theses were considered in English,
Spanish and Portuguese. A total of 1,355 studies were found, summing up the results of all the search engines, of which 8 studies (5
articles and 3 theses) were selected after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, selection by title, abstract and content. Most of these
studies were discarded because they had contents related to the TMJ and/or ligaments wherein an author used the surname "Tanaka", that
were not related to the Tanaka ligament. Among the 8 selected studies, 6 of them cite text books, 1 cites a video published by Terry
Tanaka and 1 cites a thesis. Most of these textbooks cited also refer to videos by Terry Tanaka and his books. Moreover, most of the
anatomical literature does not consider this ligament as an individualized structure. Although there are descriptions of Tanaka's ligament
in textbooks, the scientific support of its existence is based only on videos and texts by Terry Tanaka. The dissemination of knowledge
associated with this ligament must be cautious, as there is a need for further morphological and functional studies to confirm its existence.
Subjects