fissured

This term describes a surface broken by deep, narrow cracks and is most frequently encountered in geological and medical contexts. In geology, it suggests a structural failure or natural weathering of rock, while in medicine, it describes specific anatomical anomalies or pathological states, such as the grooves found in a fissured tongue.

Compared to "cracked," which can describe a superficial or accidental break in any material, "fissured" implies a more systemic, deep-seated, or structural division. It carries a clinical or scientific register and is rarely used in casual conversation to describe everyday objects.