What are sutures in the context of human development?

Sutures refer specifically to the fibrous joints that connect the bones of the skull. In human development, these structures are crucial as they allow for the growth of the skull during infancy and childhood. The sutures enable the bony plates of the skull to expand as the brain grows, which is essential for protecting the developing brain. Over time, these sutures gradually fuse and become less flexible, contributing to the stability of the skull in adulthood. Understanding the role of sutures is important in the study of human growth, particularly in the context of cranial development and the overall growth patterns observed during early life stages.