The role of sutures in normal and abnormal craniofacial growth.

The paper is a shortened version of a paper read at the symposium on craniofacial growth, in which the literature on various aspects of sutures was reviewed. Suture development, structure, growth, and closure are covered, and the response of sutures to orthopedic forces and their role in craniosynostosis exemplified. Rather than being an extensive review, references are included preferably to present diversity in results and methods within the subtitle of the symposium, 'mechanisms and study methods'.