Directional variation in extensibility of human skin in vivo.

Abstract A directional variation in the extensibility of human skin is found on uniaxial loading in the plane of the skin. This report deals with a pilot study of this characteristic as observed on the anterior aspect of the chest and concludes that there is a correlation between this anisotropy in extensibility and Langer's Lines. The direction of maximum extensibility of the skin is at right angles to Langer's Lines, which further subtantiates the hypothesis that Langer's Lines represent a preferred orientation of the fibres within the dermis.