Background: The lungs are the essential organs of respiration which are divided into lobes by issures. The fissures facilitate the movement of the lobes and help in a more uniform expansion of the whole lung. These fissures may be complete, incomplete or absent. In addition to these fissures, lung might also have accessory fissures, usually indicating the junction between bronchopulmonary segments. Knowledge offissures is necessary for the appreciation of lobar anatomy and thus for locating the bronchopulmonary segments which are significant both anatomically and clinically.
Objective: To study the morphology of fissures and lobes of the lungs. Materials & Methods: Morphological study of 55 lungs by dissection method of embalmed cadavers was performed in the Department of Anatomy of Sri Devaraj Urs Medical College. Results: Out of total 28 right lungs,6 showed absence of horizontal fissure, 11 showed incomplete horizontal fissure and 3lungs showed incomplete both horizontal and oblique fissures. Out of total 27 leftlungs, 2 showed absence of oblique fissure and 4 showed incomplete oblique fissure. Accessory fissure was seen in three left lungs.
Conclusions: Awareness of the variations in the lobes and fissures of the lungs is important forradiologists for proper radiological interpretation and to clinicians for performing segmental lungresections and lobectomies.
