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.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anal fissure</span> Break or tear in anal canal skin

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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">Ulcer</span> Inflamed break in bodily tissue that impedes function of the affected organ

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

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<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