To investigate the source of the metaplasia chondrocytes in the bilaminar zone following anterior disc displacement (ADD) of temporomandibular joint (TMJ).
This is called Barrett's esophagus - or Barrett's metaplasia, and the cylindrical epithelium has a greater risk of degenerating into a particular type of esophageal cancer, called adenocarcinoma.
Metaplasia refers to the replacement of one mature cell type with another mature cell type: for example, squamous metaplasia of the respiratory columnar epithelium - as evidenced by the metaplastic cough of a smoker.