Anatomical dissections for use in neurosurgery. Vol. 1 [Dr. Karl Vossschulte, Professor emeritus of surgery, Justus-Liebig-Univ. Gießen, to his 80th anniversary

Advances in imaging techniques and microsurgery have made it possible to operate on any intracerebral structure. However, precise knowledge of the anatomy of the brain is an essential prerequisite. Conventional textbooks of the anatomy of the brain present the individual system according to their development and functional aspects, e.g. cortex, limbic system, basal ganglia, brainstem and cerebellum. As the neurosurgeon may be confronted with all the various systems during the operation, it is necessary to perform brain dissections under the aspect of operative approaches. The first volume gives young neurosurgeons methodical instructions in the dissection of the formaldehyde-preserved brain. Certain individual surface structures are kept intact until the end of the dissection so that the relative topographical positions of surface and deep structures can be made discernable. Two specimens are In the first dissection the cerebrum and cerebellum are studied to make the young neurosurgeon familiar with these structures during his initial training. The blood vessels and leptomeninges are removed to make the structures more easily recognizable and less confusing. As experience has shown that by the end of the first dissection the specimen is rather damaged by mistakes, the relationship between deep seated parts, the ventricular system and surface structures are then shown in a second dissection, where the vessels and leptomeninges are preserved. Thisbookispublishedintwovolumes. Velum medullare posterior in the area of the 4th Inthisfirstvolume, anattemptismadetogiveyoung ventricle, including the choroidpoint ofthe PICA, neurosurgeons methodical instruction in the dissec canbestudiedexactly. Theseexampleswerechosen tion of formaldehyde-preserved brains. This book, becauseexacttopographicalknowledgeoftheseves however, isnotintendedtobetakenasatextbookon sel-richstructuresisofteninadequate;andwhenusing modernoperativetechniques, increasingly more op anatomy. Conventionalpresentationsoftheanatomy ofthebrainmustpresent, stepbystep, theindividual erationsareperformedinjusttheseparticularareas. systemsoftheorganaccordingto itsdevelopmental These dissections compose the content of the first and functional aspects, e. g. cortex, limbic system, volume. basal ganglia, brainstem, and cerebellum. Because The second volume is intended for experienced duringasingleoperationtheneurosurgeon issome neurosurgeonswhoperformcomplexoperationsdeep times confronted with all the various systems, it is insidethebrain. Someoftheseoperations have be necessarytoperformbraindissectionsfromtheview come standardized, e. g. theopeningofthesylvian point of operative approaches. Therefore, in this fissure withoperations intheareaofthe Insulaand worktheattemptismadetokeepcertainindividual cranial base. Other complex operations are per surfacestructures, e. g. theGyruspraecentralisintact formed seldom eventoday, e. g. approaches to the until the end of the dissection so that the relative 3rdventricle, Velum interpositum, lateralventricle, topographicalpositionsofsurfaceanddeepstructures Cisterna tecti, Lobulus quadrangularis cerebelli, to can be made discernable. For these reasons, it is namejustafew. Beforesuchoperations, itis advis advisabletoviewthesurfacestructuresofthebrainin able(theauthorstilldoessooccasionally)toorientate relationship to the skull, but then to start with re oneself on a formaldehyde-preserved brain. It is movingthebloodvesselsandleptomeningessothatin shownhowonaformaldehyde-preservedbrain, even this waythe skeletonizedorgan is dissected step by thoughitdoesnotprovidetherealconditionsofalive step, because in the preserved vascular system, the brainunderthe operative microscope, the most im structures are only partially recognizable and thus portant topographical relationships can be recog confusing. Forthisdissectiontwoorgansareneeded. nized. Inthe first dissection, thecerebrum andcerebellum Bothvolumesaretheresultofaone-yeardissection are studied. These the young neurosurgeon should course for colleagues meeting twice a week in our havebecomefamiliarduringhisinitialtraininginthe clinic Front Matter....Pages I-IX Front Matter....Pages 1-1 Basic Principles....Pages 2-11 Lateral and Medial Cortex cerebri....Pages 12-45 Basal Ganglia, Lateral and 3 rd Ventricle....Pages 46-65 Cerebellum and 4 th Ventricle....Pages 66-115 Front Matter....Pages 117-117 Supratentorial Structures....Pages 118-271 Infratentorial Structures....Pages 272-303 Back Matter....Pages 305-317 The suggested exercises in preparation are not designed as a course in microanatomy, but should simply serve as a point of reference for experienced surgeons who venture into problematic regions of the brain and seek pre-operative orientation. Wolfgang Seeger, In Collaboration With H.r. Eggert. Includes Bibliographical References And Indexes.