Langer’s lines are areas of tension in the skin that can affect wound healing and scar appearance. Austrian anatomist Karl Langer mapped these lines in the 19th century, noting that they can vary between individuals and locations. Surgeons and forensic pathologists use this knowledge to make incisions and evaluate wounds.
Langer’s lines are areas of tension in the skin created by underlying collagen structures. Wounds created parallel to the lines tend to take the form of narrow slits, while perpendicular wounds will open because they are pulled by tension. This can have important implications for surgery, particularly in cosmetic procedures where the goal may be to minimize the appearance of scarring. Forensic pathologists are also interested in Langer’s lines because they can affect the appearance of lesions and may be important to consider when characterizing wounds.
Austrian anatomist Karl Langer noted these distinctive features when performing research on cadavers in the 19th century. Other anatomists had taken note of the underlying patterns of tension in the skin, but Langer conducted hands-on research to describe and map them. He used a distinctive circular instrument to poke the skin, creating a series of lesions so he could see how the skin reacted. In the course of his experiments, he made several important observations.
One was that, far from being static, Langer’s lines could vary between individuals. He was able to create a general map of the lines on the body, but noted that different people might have slightly different orientations. Also, they depended on the location. Someone lying down had different strain patterns than someone bent over, for example. His experiments, based on cadavers, were not a perfect illustration of how skin tension behaved in the body because his subjects were unable to pose dynamically.
Despite some problems with Langer lines, they can be a useful tool. In surgery, incisions can be made parallel to the tension if possible to reduce the risk of creating open surgical wounds. The reduction in tension can also mean that the edges of the wound will stretch less as they heal. This can translate into less pain for the patient and smaller scars. For very small incisions, the surgeon may try to hide the cut in a fold of skin so that the scar will be invisible after recovery.
Also, pathologists consider Langer’s lines when evaluating bodies. The shape of a wound can depend on how and where a weapon enters the body, an important factor in assessing crime victims. Placement can also be important. From the nature of a wound, a pathologist may be able to determine how the victim was positioned at the time, based on the angle of entry and other characteristics of the wound.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
