Something of the nature of gross sutural growth.

A series of experiments was performed on monkeys, rabbits, and turtles to study gross sutural growth of bones. Radiopaque implants in conjunction with serial gross and radiographic measurements were employed. Differences in growth were observed between 5 facial sutures and also the same suture at different times. Growth was greatest at the zygomaticotemporal suture and least at the premaxillomaxillary suture. The nasal bone side of the frontonasal suture grew about twice as fact as the frontal bone side. In the turtle shell the midsagittal suture grew faster than a transverse suture. In all of the animals the rate of sutural growth decreased with increase in age. No gross regional growth disturbance was noted after resection of the frontonasal, midpalatine, or transpalatine sutures. After extirpation of the median palatine suture, it re-formed, in an eccentric position, in a number of instances. We concluded that bone growth that occurred at sutures was secondary or compensatory to some other factor.