A histologic comparative study of the midpalatal suture and periodontal ligament tissue in the beagle dog

The present investigation describes the morphological difference between the suture and the periodontal ligament in beagle dogs. Specimens from five beagle dogs, 2 yr old, containing the anterior portion of the maxilla were used. Following routine histologic preparations frontal sections were cut with the microtome. The sections were stained and studied in the light microscope. The fibers in the midpalatal suture seemed coarser and less organized than the fibers in the periodontal ligament tissue. The vessels in the suture had thicker walls than the vessels in the periodontal ligament. A probable reason for the morphological differences between the two tissues is discussed.