What is fissured tongue and what causes it?

The image shows a condition known as fissured tongue, also called scrotal tongue or plicate tongue.

Fissured tongue is characterized by grooves or furrows on the dorsal (top) surface of the tongue. These fissures can vary in depth and pattern, often appearing as a prominent central groove with smaller grooves branching off.

The exact cause is unknown, but it is often considered a benign, inherited condition. It can also be associated with:

• Geographic tongue (benign migratory glossitis)
• Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome (a rare neurological disorder)
• Down syndrome

It is generally harmless and does not require treatment unless food debris gets trapped in the fissures, leading to irritation or infection.