Fissure (anatomy)

General Information
Latin	fissura
Greek
TA98
TA2
FMA
Details
System
Artery
Vein
Nerve
Lymphatic drainage
Precursor
Function
Identifiers
Clinical significance
Notes

A fissure in anatomy refers to a deep groove, natural division, or elongated cleft in various organs or tissues of the body. Fissures are commonly found in the brain, lungs, and liver.

Types of Fissures

Cerebral Fissures

In the brain, fissures are prominent grooves that separate the different lobes and hemispheres. The most notable cerebral fissures include:

• Longitudinal fissure: This fissure separates the two cerebral hemispheres.
• Lateral sulcus (Sylvian fissure): This fissure divides the temporal lobe from the frontal and parietal lobes.
• Central sulcus (Rolandic fissure): This fissure separates the frontal lobe from the parietal lobe.

Pulmonary Fissures

In the lungs, fissures separate the different lobes of the lung. The main pulmonary fissures are:

• Oblique fissure: Found in both lungs, it separates the superior lobe from the inferior lobe.
• Horizontal fissure: Found only in the right lung, it separates the superior lobe from the middle lobe.

Hepatic Fissures

In the liver, fissures are less prominent but still significant. They include:

• Fissure for ligamentum teres: This fissure contains the ligamentum teres.
• Fissure for ligamentum venosum: This fissure contains the ligamentum venosum.

Clinical Significance

Fissures can be sites of pathology. For example, a fissure in ano is a painful condition involving a tear in the anal canal. In the brain, abnormal widening of fissures can indicate atrophy or other neurological disorders.

See Also

• Sulcus (anatomy)
• Lobe (anatomy)
• Anatomical terms of location

References

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