42 - Supernumerary Lobes of the Lung - Accessory Fissures Can Lead to Confusion in the Clinic

Poster Board Number: 42
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Abstract Body : During the normal routine dissection of an 80-year-old male cadaver, both lungs contained the presence of an incomplete horizontal fissure in the inferior lobe, creating supernumerary lobes in both essential respiratory organs. The left lung contained two fissures and divided into three lobes, and the right lung was observed to have three fissures, which created four total lobes. The pulmonary fissures create anatomical separations between the lobes are double folds of visceral pleura, and are vital in allowing movement of the lobes in relation to one another. This anatomical feature allows for greater expansion of the lungs to create adequate respiration. Pulmonary fissures are considered to be complete when the lobes are held together only at the hilum with the bronchi and vital pulmonary vessels. If there are areas of parenchymal tissue between the clefts that fail to reach the area of the hilum, the fissure is called an accessory fissure. Accessory fissures are clefts of varying depths, typically located between bronchopulmonary segments. While they are not considered “true” typical fissures, accessory fissures are much more common among fetuses than adults. Radiologically, accessory fissures resemble horizontal and oblique fissures except for their varying locations. Frequently, these accessory fissures can be mistaken as pathology by clinicians. While variations in the anatomy of the lungs are not considerably rare, recognition of these variations is important to the fields of anatomy, anatomical education, radiology, surgery, and pulmonology.