(lang'ĕr )

[Carl Ritter von Edenberg Langer, Austrian anatomist, 1819–1887]

The structural orientation of the fibrous tissue of the skin, forming the natural cleavage lines that, though present in all body areas, are visible only in certain sites such as the creases of the palm. These lines are of particular importance in surgery. Incisions made parallel to them make a much smaller scar upon healing than those made at right angles to the lines.SYN: skin tension lines.

SEE: illus.