![HOW TO OPERATE ON THE BRAIN](https://cdn.magzter.com/1493278425/1720078167/articles/KoEvUy93M1720694848281/HOW-TO-OPERATE-ON-THE-BRAIN.jpg)
Brain surgery encompasses a myriad of procedures designed to treat an equally diverse set of conditions and associated symptoms, including tumours, blood clots, epilepsy and aneurysms. Neurosurgeries can range from minimally invasive procedures such as a biopsy, whereby a needle is inserted into the brain to collect cells for analysis, to extensive operations that expose the brain to treat blood clots and for tumour removal.
Like any other tumour, a brain tumour is an abnormal mass of cells and tissue that wedges itself somewhere in the brain. There are two categories of tumour: benign and malignant. While benign tumours can grow large, albeit slowly, they don't typically invade surrounding tissue or spread around the body. A malignant tumour, on the other hand, grows much faster, invades other tissue and can spread around the body. All in all, 120 different types of tumour can form in the brain alone.
For both benign and malignant brain tumours, a common course of intervention is a craniotomy and resection, whereby a surgeon removes a portion of the skull to expose the brain and hopefully cut away the tumour. To help guide them through the brain and keep tabs on where surgical instruments are during operations, surgeons use neuronavigation systems that are connected to their equipment.
"One of the biggest challenges is distinguishing between normal brain tissue and tumour tissue, which requires extensive training and experience," says Pietro D'Urso, a consultant neurosurgeon at Salford Royal Hospital in Manchester. "The location of the tumour is another big challenge, particularly if a tumour is in very important parts of the brain, called 'eloquent areas', that control speech and motor functions."
この記事は How It Works UK の Issue 192 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は How It Works UK の Issue 192 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
![HOW ANIMALS LIVE IN EXTREMES](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/15253/1754742/YIOj2M7_a1720695590072/HOW-ANIMALS-LIVE-IN-EXTREMES.jpg)
HOW ANIMALS LIVE IN EXTREMES
Surviving in some of the world's harshest environments is tough, but not for these robust species
![HOW TO OPERATE ON THE BRAIN](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/15253/1754742/KoEvUy93M1720694848281/HOW-TO-OPERATE-ON-THE-BRAIN.jpg)
HOW TO OPERATE ON THE BRAIN
The procedures and surgical techniques that tackle problems inside your skull
![HOW AEROPLANE ESCAPE HATCHES WORK](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/15253/1754742/QOUbJhnKK1720694413158/HOW-AEROPLANE-ESCAPE-HATCHES-WORK.jpg)
HOW AEROPLANE ESCAPE HATCHES WORK
Discover the engineering that allows an entire commercial aircraft to be evacuated in under two minutes
![AMAZING OLYMPIC INNOVATIONS](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/15253/1754742/7lQEH_-7M1720692969821/AMAZING-OLYMPIC-INNOVATIONS.jpg)
AMAZING OLYMPIC INNOVATIONS
The 2024 Summer Olympics comes with an array of inspired inventions, from performance-enhancing footwear to Al-powered judges
![Solar power generates enough heat to power a steel furnace](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/15253/1754742/neQJARC3f1720692817726/SOLAR-POWER-GENERATES-ENOUGH-HEAT-TO-POWER-A-STEEL-FURNACE.jpg)
Solar power generates enough heat to power a steel furnace
Scientists have used solar power to heat an object to 1,000 degrees Celsius - hot enough to power a steel furnace.
![New antivenom invented for black widow spider bites](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/15253/1754742/dMDqIdT2x1720692701640/NEW-ANTIVENOM-INVENTED-FOR-BLACK-WIDOW-SPIDER-BITES.jpg)
New antivenom invented for black widow spider bites
Scientists have invented a new antivenom for European black widow spider bites that uses human antibodies to mitigate the effects of the arachnid’s painful toxins.
![50,000-year-old Neanderthal bones harbour the oldest known human viruses](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/15253/1754742/aMdhUGqpz1720692612593/50000YEAROLD-NEANDERTHAL-BONES-HARBOUR-THE-OLDEST-KNOWN-HUMAN-VIRUSES.jpg)
50,000-year-old Neanderthal bones harbour the oldest known human viruses
Meanderthals who lived 50,000 years ago were infected with three viruses that still affect modern humans today, researchers have discovered.
![A new study shows crows can count out loud](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/15253/1754742/UwMAeH4YH1720692305332/A-NEW-STUDY-SHOWS-CROWS-CAN-COUNT-OUT-LOUD.jpg)
A new study shows crows can count out loud
Crows can count out loud, a startling new study has revealed, and they may even have the same numeracy skills as human toddlers.
![Canadian 'super pigs' are likely to invade the northern US](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/15253/1754742/9-uUCrqkI1720692176646/CANADIAN-SUPER-PIGS-ARE-LIKELY-TO-INVADE-THE-NORTHERN-US.jpg)
Canadian 'super pigs' are likely to invade the northern US
Feral 'super pigs' in Canada could soon trample across the US border.
![Heavy metals in Beethoven's hair may explain his deafness](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/15253/1754742/PuI_91rnV1720692039551/HEAVY-METALS-IN-BEETHOVENS-HAIR-MAY-EXPLAIN-HIS-DEAFNESS.jpg)
Heavy metals in Beethoven's hair may explain his deafness
High levels of heavy metals detected in Ludwig van Beethoven's hair reveal that he may have had lead poisoning, possibly contributing to his deafness and other illnesses.