Fissure

In the realm of anatomy, a fissure (from the Latin fissura, with the plural form being fissurae) refers to a groove, a distinct natural division, an elongated cleft, deep furrow, or even a tear that can be observed in various sections of the body. The presence of these fissures serves a multitude of functions, with their locations and characteristics varying depending on the organ or system in question.

Lingua Plicata fissures on tongue

Gray727 lateral fissure

Fissures in the Human Body

Brain

• Medial longitudinal fissure or Longitudinal fissure: Splits the cerebrum into its two hemispheres.
• Fissure of Bichat: Located beneath the corpus callosum within the cerebellum.
• Broca's fissure: Identified in the third left frontal convolution.
• Burdach's fissure: Creates a link between the insula and the inner surface of the operculum.
• Calcarin's fissure: Runs from the occipital section of the cerebrum, ending at the occipital fissure.
• Callosomarginal fissure: Found on the mesial surface of the cerebrum.
• Central fissure or Rolando's fissure: Separates the frontal from the parietal lobes.
• Clevenger's fissure: Located in the inferior temporal lobe.
• Collateral fissure: Present on the inferior surface of the cerebrum.
• Hippocampal fissure: Extends from the corpus callosum, finishing at the tip of the temporal lobe.
• Horizontal fissure or Transverse fissure: Acts as a divider between the cerebrum and the cerebellum. Notably, "transverse fissure" also pertains to structures in the liver and lungs.
• Occipitoparietal fissure: Lies between the occipital and parietal lobes.
• Fissure of Sylvius: Distinguishes the frontal and parietal lobes from the temporal lobe.
• Wernicke's fissure: Separates the temporal and parietal lobes from the occipital lobe.
• Zygal fissure: Found within the cerebrum.

Skull

• Auricular fissure: Located in the temporal bone.
• Pterygomaxillary fissure
• Petrotympanic fissure
• Sphenoidal fissure: A separator for the wings from the body of the sphenoid bone.
• Superior orbital fissure

Liver

• Longitudinal fissure: Identified on the liver's lower surface and also acts as a separator for the right and left cerebral hemispheres.
• Portal fissure: Located on the liver's under-surface.
• Umbilical fissure: Found anteriorly on the liver.
• fissure for ligamentum teres hepatis
• fissure for ligamentum venosum

Spinal Cord

• Ventral median fissure

Lungs

• Oblique fissure: Found in both the right and left lungs.
• Horizontal fissure: Exclusive to the right lung.

Other

Anal fissure

• Henle's fissure: Represents the connective tissue amid the heart's muscle fibers.
• Palpebral fissure: Divides the upper and lower eyelids.
• Anal Fissure: A tear or disruption in the skin lining the anal canal.

Abnormal Fissure

While most fissures are natural structures, some can result from pathological processes. An "abnormal fissure" can typically refer to an unnatural tract or ulcer, with the anal fissure (a tear in the anus) being the most commonly diagnosed variant.

See Also

• Anatomy
• Cerebrum
• Liver
• Sulcus (anatomy)
• Sulcus (neuroanatomy)

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