Journal of neurosurgery
The most recent articles from:
J. Neurosurg.
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The lenticular was an instrument introduced by Galen to facilitate cutting the bone of the cranium. Illustrations of the instrument first appeared in the 16th century during the Renaissance. These illustrations have been widely used, but the instrument's shape seems ill-adapted to its function. Archaeological research in Rimini, Italy, unearthed a similar instrument with a shape that seems more suitable for the function of cutting cranial bone. The object of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of these two instruments for cutting the bone of the cranium. ⋯ Analysis of illustrations in medical publications should be undertaken with the same rigor as applied to analysis of text.