craniotomy

noun

Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ḱer- Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ ? Proto-Indo-European *ḱerh₂- Proto-Indo-European *-ō Proto-Indo-European *ḱr̥h₂-(e)s-n- Proto-Hellenic *kárahə Ancient Greek *κρᾱν- (*krān-) Proto-Indo-European *-yósder. Ancient Greek -ῐος (-ĭos)? Ancient Greek -ῐ́ον (-ĭ́on) Ancient Greek κρᾱνῐ́ον (krānĭ́on)bor. Medieval Latin crāniumlbor. English cranio- Proto-Indo-European *temh₁- Proto-Indo-European *-né- Ancient Greek τέμνω (témnō)der. English -tomy English craniotomy From cranio- + -tomy.

1. The surgical procedure for removing a part of the skull, called a bone flap, prior to a treatment. The bone flap is replaced at the end of the operation.