Skin fissure

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Schematic image comparing a skin fissure to an erosion and an ulcer. Ulcers, fissures, and erosions.svg
Schematic image comparing a skin fissure to an erosion and an ulcer.
The surface of the knuckles of a hand with xeroderma, showing skin cracking (generalized skin fissuring). Xeroderma knuckles.jpg
The surface of the knuckles of a hand with xeroderma, showing skin cracking (generalized skin fissuring).

A skin fissure is a cutaneous condition in which there is a linear-like cleavage of skin, sometimes defined as extending into the dermis. [1] It is smaller than a skin laceration.

Contents

Generalized

A skin area on which there are many skin fissures is called cracked skin, and is most commonly a result of skin dryness. Ichthyosis is a genetic disorder where there is often severe skin cracking.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harlequin-type ichthyosis</span> Genetic skin disease

Harlequin-type ichthyosis is a genetic disorder that results in thickened skin over nearly the entire body at birth. The skin forms large, diamond/trapezoid/rectangle-shaped plates that are separated by deep cracks. These affect the shape of the eyelids, nose, mouth, and ears and limit movement of the arms and legs. Restricted movement of the chest can lead to breathing difficulties. These plates fall off over several weeks. Other complications can include premature birth, infection, problems with body temperature, and dehydration. The condition is the most severe form of ichthyosis, a group of genetic disorders characterised by scaly skin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anal fissure</span> Medical condition

An anal fissure is a break or tear in the skin of the anal canal. Anal fissures may be noticed by bright red anal bleeding on toilet paper and undergarments, or sometimes in the toilet. If acute they are painful after defecation, but with chronic fissures, pain intensity often reduces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sulcus (morphology)</span> Groove in an organ surface

In biological morphology and anatomy, a sulcus is a furrow or fissure. It may be a groove, natural division, deep furrow, elongated cleft, or tear in the surface of a limb or an organ, most notably on the surface of the brain, but also in the lungs, certain muscles, as well as in bones, and elsewhere. Many sulci are the product of a surface fold or junction, such as in the gums, where they fold around the neck of the tooth.

Vulvitis is inflammation of the vulva, the external female mammalian genitalia that include the labia majora, labia minora, clitoris, and introitus. It may co-occur as vulvovaginitis with vaginitis, inflammation of the vagina, and may have infectious or non-infectious causes. The warm and moist conditions of the vulva make it easily affected. Vulvitis is prone to occur in any female especially those who have certain sensitivities, infections, allergies, or diseases that make them likely to have vulvitis. Postmenopausal women and prepubescent girls are more prone to be affected by it, as compared to women in their menstruation period. It is so because they have low estrogen levels which makes their vulvar tissue thin and dry. Women having diabetes are also prone to be affected by vulvitis due to the high sugar content in their cells, increasing their vulnerability. Vulvitis is not a disease, it is just an inflammation caused by an infection, allergy or injury. Vulvitis may also be symptom of any sexually transmitted infection or a fungal infection.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Xeroderma</span> A condition characterised by dry skin

Xeroderma, xerosis or xerosis cutis, or simply dry skin, is a skin condition characterized by excessively dry skin.[1]

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ophthalmic nerve</span> Sensory nerve of the face

The ophthalmic nerve (CN V1) is a sensory nerve of the head. It is one of three divisions of the trigeminal nerve (CN V), a cranial nerve. It has three major branches which provide sensory innervation to the eye, and the skin of the upper face and anterior scalp, as well as other structures of the head.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fissured tongue</span> Medical condition

Fissured tongue is a benign condition characterized by deep grooves (fissures) in the dorsum of the tongue. Although these grooves may look unsettling, the condition is usually painless. Some individuals may complain of an associated burning sensation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frontal nerve</span> Nerve supplying the forehead, frontal sinus, and upper eyelid

The frontal nerve is the largest branch of the ophthalmic nerve (V1), itself a branch of the trigeminal nerve (CN V). It supplies sensation to the skin of the forehead, the mucosa of the frontal sinus, and the skin of the upper eyelid. It may be affected by schwannoma.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lacrimal nerve</span> Branch of the ophthalmic nerve

The lacrimal nerve is the smallest of the three main branches of the ophthalmic nerve (CN V1) (itself a branch of the trigeminal nerve (CN V)).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Infraorbital nerve</span> Branch of the maxillary nerve supplying the face

The infraorbital nerve is a branch of the maxillary nerve. It arises in the pterygopalatine fossa. It passes through the inferior orbital fissure to enter the orbit. It travels through the orbit, then enters and traverses the infraorbital canal, exiting the canal at the infraorbital foramen to reach the face. It provides sensory innervation to the skin and mucous membranes around the middle of the face.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blepharophimosis</span> Congenital anomaly in which the eye openings are small

Blepharophimosis is a congenital anomaly in which the eyelids are underdeveloped such that they cannot open as far as usual and permanently cover part of the eyes. Both the vertical and horizontal palpebral fissures are shortened; the eyes also appear spaced more widely apart as a result, known as telecanthus.

Cryptophthalmos is a rare congenital anomaly in which the skin is continuous over the eyeball with absence of palpebral fissures and presence of eyelashes. It is classified into three types: complete, incomplete and abortive. Failure of eyelid separation can be associated with maldevelopment of the underlying cornea and microphthalmia. Cryptophthalmos usually occurs on both sides and occurs in association with multiple other malformations collectively referred to as Fraser syndrome. Along with microphthalmia, it may be associated with a tuft of hair.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhagades</span> Fissures, cracks, or linear scars in the skin associated with congenital syphilis

Rhagades are fissures, cracks, or linear scars in the skin, especially at the angles of the mouth and nose. They tend to form at areas of motion. They can be a result from bacterial infection of skin lesions. They are associated with late stages of congenital syphilis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ulcer</span> Index of articles associated with the same name

An ulcer is a discontinuity or break in a bodily membrane that impedes normal function of the affected organ. According to Robbins's pathology, "ulcer is the breach of the continuity of skin, epithelium or mucous membrane caused by sloughing out of inflamed necrotic tissue." Common forms of ulcers recognized in medicine include:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tongue disease</span> Medical condition

Tongue diseases can be congenital or acquired, and are multiple in number. Considered according to a surgical sieve, some example conditions which can involve the tongue are discussed below. Glossitis is a general term for tongue inflammation, which can have various etiologies, e.g. infection.

Breast eczema may affect the nipples, areolae, or surrounding skin, with eczema of the nipples being of the moist type with oozing and crusting, in which painful fissuring is frequently seen, especially in nursing mothers. It will often occur in pregnancy even without breast feeding.

Chronic vesiculobullous hand eczema presents with lesions that may be hyperkeratotic, scaling, and fissures, and the "dyshidrosiform" pattern may be recognized only during exacerbations.</ref> Females outnumber males by 3:1, and there is a tendency for the pruritic 1- to 2-mm vesicles to be most pronounced at the sides of the fingers.

Hyperkeratotic hand dermatitis presents with hyperkeratotic, fissure-prone, erythematous areas of the middle or proximal palm, and the volar surfaces of the fingers may also be involved.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hapalonychia</span> Medical condition

Hapalonychia, is a condition in which a toenail or fingernail nail becomes soft and thin, causing it to easily bend or break. This can result from an inherited condition, malnutrition, or debility.

Tricuspisaurus is an extinct genus of reptile originally described as a trilophosaurid; it was later considered likely to be a procolophonid, but recent analyses have affirmed the original classification. Fossils are known from the Ruthin Quarry in Glamorgan, Wales, one of several Late Triassic to Early Jurassic British fissure deposits. Like some trilophosaurs, it has an edentulous, or toothless beak. Tricuspisaurus gets its name from its heterodont dentition, which includes tricuspid teeth, or teeth with three cusps. The type species, T. thomasi, was named in 1957 along with the possible trilophosaur Variodens inopinatus from Somerset, England.

References

  1. Gary Williams; Murray Katcher. "Primary Care Dermatology Module > Nomenclature of Skin Lesions > 18. FISSURE". Department of Pediatrics. The University of Wisconsin. Archived from the original on 2013-10-20.

Further reading