Fissures
Fissures
Fissures (/ˈfɪʃərz/; from Latin fissura, meaning "split" or "cleft") are long, narrow openings or lines of breakage made by cracking or splitting, especially in rock or earth. In the medical context, a fissure often refers to a tear in the lining of the body, particularly in the anus (known as an anal fissure) or in the brain (known as a cerebral fissure).
Etymology
The term "fissure" originates from the Latin word fissura, which translates to "split" or "cleft". It was first used in the English language in the late 14th century.
Medical Context
In medicine, a fissure can refer to several different conditions:
- Anal Fissure: This is a small tear in the thin, moist tissue (mucosa) that lines the anus. It may cause severe pain and/or bleeding during bowel movements.
- Cerebral Fissure: These are deep grooves in the brain which create major divisions in the brain's structure. The largest of these is the longitudinal fissure, which separates the two cerebral hemispheres.
- Fissure of Bichat: This is a deep vertical fissure in the brain, separating the thalamus from the caudate nucleus and the lenticular nucleus.
- Fissure of Rolando: Also known as the central sulcus, this is a fissure in the brain separating the frontal lobe and the parietal lobe.
Related Terms
- Sulcus: A groove or furrow on the brain's surface, surrounding a gyrus (raised portion of the brain). It is often used interchangeably with "fissure", but technically, a fissure is usually deeper than a sulcus.
- Cleft: A split or opening in a body part, similar to a fissure. Clefts can occur in many parts of the body, such as the lip (cleft lip) or the palate (cleft palate).
- Crack: A break or split in the skin, similar to a fissure. Cracks can occur due to dryness or injury.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Fissures
- Wikipedia's article - Fissures
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