Naked Science Forum
Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: Jerryade on 27/05/2008 21:02:36
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Jeremiah asked the Naked Scientists:
What is the term used for the surgical removal of the skull?
What do you think?
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Decapitated?
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Maybe you're not thinking total removal of the skull?! Perhaps just a piece of skull, for instance to carry out a surgical procedure or to decompress the brain following a head injury, infection or stroke?
In this case the term is "craniectomy", which is removal of a skull segment. Making a hole in the skull is a craniotomy.
Chris
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You need trepanation like a hole in the head [:)]
Although some are rather too keen on the idea ...
Mellen decided to try again. He describes his third attempt at self-trepanation:
After some time there was an ominous sounding schlurp and the sound of bubbling.
I drew the trepan out and the gurgling continued.
It sounded like air bubbles running under the skull as they were pressed out.
I looked at the trepan and there was a bit of bone in it. At last!
Amanda Feilding also performed a self-trepanation with a drill, while her partner Joey Mellen filmed the operation, in the film titled "Heartbeat in the Brain".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trepanation
[This film could definitely be described as "boring" [:)]]
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I wonder if the question is relating to the procedure at autopsy, when the cranial vault (?) is opened to remove the brain.