craniotomy: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical/Medical
Quick answer
What does “craniotomy” mean?
A surgical operation where a section of the skull bone is removed to access the brain.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A surgical operation where a section of the skull bone is removed to access the brain.
Broadly, any surgical incision or opening into the skull. Can be used figuratively in very limited contexts to describe intense intellectual probing or analysis.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling and pronunciation are consistent.
Connotations
None specific to either variety.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both varieties, confined to medical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “craniotomy” in a Sentence
[surgeon] performed a craniotomy on [patient] for [condition/purpose][patient] underwent a craniotomyVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “craniotomy” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The craniotomy procedure
- The craniotomy bone flap
American English
- The craniotomy approach
- A craniotomy patient
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used exclusively in medical, neuroscientific, and historical (e.g., history of medicine) literature.
Everyday
Only used when discussing a specific medical procedure someone has undergone.
Technical
Core term in neurosurgery, neurology, and medical reports.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “craniotomy”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “craniotomy”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “craniotomy”
- Misspelling as 'crainiotomy' or 'craniotimy'. Using it as a general term for any head injury.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, by definition it is a surgical opening into the skull to access the brain or its surrounding structures.
In a craniotomy, the removed bone flap is typically replaced at the end of surgery. In a craniectomy, the bone flap is not immediately replaced, often to allow for brain swelling.
It is a highly technical term. In everyday talk, people might simply say 'brain surgery' or 'skull surgery' unless giving specific medical details.
Yes. 'Cranium' is the Medieval Latin word for skull, from Greek 'kranion'. '-tomy' comes from Greek '-tomia', meaning cutting.
A surgical operation where a section of the skull bone is removed to access the brain.
Craniotomy is usually technical/medical in register.
Craniotomy: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkreɪ.niˈɒt.ə.mi/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkreɪ.niˈɑː.t̬ə.mi/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: CRANIum + oTOMY (cutting). It's the cutting into the cranium.
Conceptual Metaphor
ACCESS IS OPENING (The brain is accessed by opening the skull).
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'craniotomy' primarily used?