Since opinions about the presence of a band structure or a ligament in the lateral part of the temporomandibular joint capsule are divergent in the literature, the capsule of 16 post-mortem human specimens was examined both anatomically and histologically. A distinguishable ligamentous formation in the lateral part of the capsule was observed only in three specimens. In one of these, the distinguishable formation had morphological characteristics of tendineous tissue.This study indicates caution with too generalised opinions about temporomandibular morphology.