Chapter 10: Nervous System; Operative Terms

excision of part of the skull to approach the brain

incision into the skull to approach the brain

removal of a herniated disk often done percutaneously

excision of one or more laminae of the vertebrae to approach the spinal cord

flattened posterior portion of the vertebral arch

utilization of a microscope to dissect minute structure during surgery

diagnosis and treatment of disorders within cerebral blood vessels performed in a specialized angiograhic laboratory by interventional neuroradiologists; common procedures include:

• - cerebral angioplasty and stent to restore blood flow through narrowed vessels such as the carotid artery, middle cerebral, and vertebrobasilar arteries
• - embolization (plugging) of intracranial aneurysms and other malformations

surgical repair of a nerve

spinal fusion