Variations of Human Lung Fissures and its Clinical Significance - A Cadaveric Study

Introduction: The lungs are the organs of respiration, the ease of respiratory movements is due to its divisions as lobes by fissures. These fissures may be complete, incomplete or absent. These fissures are formed during development by the surrounding mesenchyme. In addition to these fissures, lung might also have accessory fissures. Such fissures often mislead the clinicians in diagnosis of lung diseases. The aim of the present study was to study/investigate the morphology of lung fissures and its variations. Materials& Methods: A total of 50 lungs both right and left dissected from cadavers was studied for patterns of fissures and its variations. Results: Out of total 25 right lungs, 40 % showed incomplete horizontal fissure and 44 % showed incomplete oblique fissures and 2 lungs (8 %) showed complete absence of both horizontal and oblique fissures. Out of total 25 left lungs, 40 % showed incomplete oblique fissure and 3 (12 %) showed absence of oblique fissure. Conclusions: Increased incidence of absence fissures could primarily be a developmental defect or could result secondary to infections/ tumor or could be an evolutionary change due to genetic and environmental causes.