Question

Predict the degree of scarring after the healing of a horizontal cut on the forehead just above the eyebrow. (Module 5.4B)

A) The scarring will be minimal because no tension lines run through that area of the body.
B) The scarring will be minimal because the cut is at a right angle to the direction of the tension lines.
C) The scarring will be significant because the cut is at a right angle to the direction of the tension lines.
D) The scarring will be significant because the cut follows the same direction as the tension lines.
E) The scarring will be minimal because the cut follows the same direction as the tension lines.

Answer 1

A horizontal cut on the forehead just above the eyebrow usually aligns with the skin's tension lines, leading to minimal scarring as the cut allows for a primary union of the wound edges.

Step-by-step explanation:

The degree of scarring from a cut on the forehead just above the eyebrow can often be predicted by the orientation of the cut relative to the tension lines of the skin, also known as Langer's lines. When a cut aligns with these tension lines, the wound can heal with minimal scarring because the skin edges are naturally re-aligned during healing. On the contrary, a cut that is perpendicular to the tension lines is likely to pull the wound edges apart, leading to more significant scarring.

A horizontal cut on the forehead just above the eyebrow generally runs parallel to the tension lines in that area. Therefore, option E) 'The scarring will be minimal because the cut follows the same direction as the tension lines' is the correct prediction. Healing in this direction allows for a primary union of the wound edges, which can reduce the likelihood of a disfiguring scar. This is preferred over a secondary union, which occurs when the wound edges are not close together and can lead to a more noticeable scar.