Three-dimensional micromorphology of human midpalatal suture and pterygomaxillary articular complex

•Micromorphology of circummaxillary sutures was assessed using micro-computed tomography images of human autopsy specimens.•Interdigitation and obliteration indexes of the midpalatal suture exhibited only a weak anteroposterior gradient, with relatively low correlations. Obliteration areas were found sporadically along the entire midpalatal suture.•Palatomaxillary and pterygopalatine sutures showed the greatest obliteration rates.•The results suggest that the success of nonsurgical maxillary expansion in adults largely depends on individual variations in sutural morphology rather than appliance design.