Fissure (anatomy)

In anatomy, a fissure (Latin fissura, plural fissurae) is a groove, natural division, deep furrow, elongated cleft, or tear in various parts of the body. It is also generally called a sulcus. In neuroanatomy a fissure usually refers to a larger groove than a sulcus in the brain although some sulci may also be termed fissures.

Types

See also: Sulcus (neuroanatomy)

Brain

• Broca's fissure: found in the third left frontal fold of the brain.
• Burdach's fissure: connects the brain's insula and the inner surface of the operculum.
• Calcarine sulcus or Calcerine fissure: extends from the occipital of the cerebrum to the occipital fissure.
• Callosomarginal fissure: found in the medial surface of the cerebrum.
• Central sulcus or Rolando's fissure: separates the brain's frontal and parietal lobes.
• Clevenger's fissure: found in the inferior temporal lobe of the brain
• Collateral fissure: found in the inferior surface of the cerebrum.
• Fissure of Bichat: found below the corpus callosum in the cerebellum of the brain.
• Lateral sulcus or Fissure of Sylvius: separates the frontal and parietal lobes of the brain from the temporal lobe.
• Hippocampal sulcus: a sulcus that extends from the brain's corpus callosum to the tip of the temporal lobe.
• Horizontal fissure or Transverse fissure: found between the cerebrum and the cerebellum. Note that a "transverse fissure" can also be found in the liver and lungs.
• Longitudinal fissure or Medial longitudinal fissure: which divides the cerebrum into the two hemispheres.
• Occipitoparietal fissure: found between the occipital and parietal lobes of the brain.
• Wernicke's fissure: separates the brain's temporal and parietal lobes from the occipital lobe.
• Zygal fissure: found in the cerebrum.

Liver

• Ligamentum teres hepatis fissure
• Ligamentum venosum fissure
• Portal fissure, found in the under-surface of the liver
• Transverse fissure of liver, found in the lower surface of the liver
• Umbilical fissure, found in front of the liver

Lung

• Azygos fissure, of right lung
• Horizontal fissure of right lung
• Oblique fissure, of the right and left lungs

Skull

• Auricular fissure, found in the temporal bone
• Petrotympanic fissure
• Pterygomaxillary fissure
• Sphenoidal fissure, separates the wings and the body of the sphenoid bone
• Superior orbital fissure

Other types

• Fissure (dentistry), a break in the tooth enamel
• Anal fissure, a break or tear in the skin of the anal canal
• Fissure of the nipple, a condition that results from running, breastfeeding and other friction-causing exposures
• Fissured tongue, a condition characterized by deep grooves (fissures) in the tongue
• Henle's fissure, a fissure in the connective tissue between the muscle fibers of the heart
• Palpebral fissure, separates the upper and lower eyelids
• Skin fissure, a linear-like cleavage of skin, sometimes defined as extending into the dermis
• Ventral median fissure, of the spinal cord

Abnormal fissure

Fissure can also refer to an unnatural tract or ulcer, most commonly found in the anus and called an anal fissure.