Several reasons could explain the confusion and controversy that reign over every aspect of temporomandibular joint dysfunction. The discord includes not only diagnosis and treatment of the dysfunction, but even involves the anatomy and the histology of the TMJ. Different data in the literature indicate the major role of the biomechanical influences on the histology of the temporomandibular joint and on the adaptability of its structures. On the basis of these concepts, the histology of the TMJ has been revisited and a new functional interpretation of the microscopic morphology of the condyle, disc and periarticular connective tissue has been described.