Fig. 1.

Investigated regions of the TMJ disc and tibial cartilage. Because of the heterogeneous nature of the TMJ disc, the contribution of GAGs to the compressive properties of the tissue was tested regionally. (a) 3 mm discs were harvested from five regions of the disc: the posterior band (PB), anterior band (AB), intermediate zone medial (IZM), intermediate zone central (IZC), and intermediate zone lateral (IZL). Hyaline articular cartilage (AC) from the tibial plateau was as a benchmark control in this investigation. (b) A 3 mm disc has harvested from the center of the tibial plateau on the medial side of the joint. (not drawn to scale).