koski1968 BAUME

* k
Fig. 4. A schematic illustration of the two differing views on the function of the suture. B
represents the concept of a thrusting force residing in the sutural tissue itself; B represents
the concept of an outside force separating the bones from each other.
Fig. 5. A schematic illustration of the nearly parallel superficial direction of the main sutures
of the upper face and of the range of direction of maxillary growth. (After BjGrk: Aota
odont. scandinav. 24: 109-127, 1966.)
not been found to grow,sg which clearly speaks against the existence of an autonomous
growth potential in the sutural tissue. An extirpation of facial sutures
appears to have no appreciable effect on the dimensional growth of the skeleton.73
The shape of the sutures has been found to depend on functional stimuli,53x 57 the
closure of the sutures appears likewise extrinsically determined,54 the sites of
sutures appear not to be predetermined,27 and it is possible to bring the sutural
growth to a halt by such mechanical forces as metal clips applied across the
suture@ or even by inserting a solid bone bridge in the suture.26 In a recent
study in which defects in fibulas of rabbits and dogs were filled with autotransplants
of cranial sutural areas, it was found that the sutural tissues grew so as
to maintain the normal increase in length of the bone.66 This certainly demonstrates
the great adaptability of the sutural tissue, but it does not prove that
the tissue has an independent growth potential.
A popular view holds that the circum-maxillary sutures are parallel to each
other so as to effect the forward-downward growth of the maxilla.8sr 9o However,
it has been shown that this parallelism is only superficial ; the growth at the
zygomaticomaxillary suture, for instance, occurs mainly in a lateral direction.”