A Brief Introduction to the Biomechanics of Craniofacial Sutures

Biomechanical studies of the craniofacial sutures can be classified in three groups: to understand (1) the inherent mechanical properties of the sutures; (2) the role and function of the sutures (using in vivo and in silico techniques); and (3) how sutures respond to mechanical loads (using in vitro or in vivo experiments). The aim of this chapter is to provide a short overview of the biomechanics of the sutures under the aforementioned categories. This chapter can be considered an introduction to the biomechanics of the sutures and readers are encouraged to read through the papers reviewed here.