Langer's lines
Last reviewed 04/2022
- Langer's lines, sometimes called cleavage lines, are topological
lines drawn on a map of the human body
- were historically defined by the direction in which the skin of a human
cadaver will split when struck with a spike
- Karl Langer investigated directional variations in the mechanical and
physical properties of skin
- he produced a series of diagrams depicting lines of cleavage in
the skin and showed that the orientation of these lines coincided
with the dominant axis of mechanical tension in the skin
- correspond to the natural orientation of collagen fibers in the dermis, and are generally parallel to the orientation of the underlying muscle fibers
- he produced a series of diagrams depicting lines of cleavage in
the skin and showed that the orientation of these lines coincided
with the dominant axis of mechanical tension in the skin
- Langer's lines have relevance to forensic science and the development
of surgical techniques
- wounds against Langer's Lines have been described to have a poorer final cosmetic appearance compared to those along Langer's Lines
- were historically defined by the direction in which the skin of a human
cadaver will split when struck with a spike
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