Question

For better healing, incisions through the skin should always be made across (perpendicular) rather than in line with (parallel) cleavage lines produced by collagen fiber bundles in the dermis.

a) True
b) False

Answer 1

The notion that incisions should be made perpendicular to the skin's cleavage lines for better healing is false. Parallel incisions respect the collagen fiber orientation, resulting in less scarring and more effective healing.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement is false. Incisions for surgical purposes should ideally be made parallel to the cleavage lines (also known as Langer's lines) of the skin. Cleavage lines are formed by the orientation of collagen fibers in the dermis, which are arranged in a parallel fashion within dense irregular connective tissue. This pattern of the fibers provides resistance to forces applied to the skin during normal movements. Incisions made parallel to these lines tend to heal better with less scarring because they respect the natural alignment of collagen fibers and cause less disruption to the skin's structural integrity. In contrast, perpendicular cuts do not follow the natural lines of tension, potentially leading to wider scars and greater healing times.