J Neurosurg. 2024 Feb 2;141(1):27-31. doi: 10.3171/2023.11.JNS232042. Print 2024 Jul 1.
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.
Replicas of the two instruments were obtained. Trepanation was performed in the left parietal region of a sheep's head. In addition, the application of the instruments in the literature was analyzed.
The Roman lenticular cut the cranium with ease. The Renaissance instrument failed to cut the bone and only separated the dura mater from the bone. The lenticular had been used to cut bone up to the 13th century. In contrast, the Renaissance instrument was not used to cut bone but to smooth roughened bony surfaces and to remove spicules of bone that were in contact with the dura.
Analysis of illustrations in medical publications should be undertaken with the same rigor as applied to analysis of text.
晶状体是盖仑引入的一种仪器，用于方便切割颅骨的骨骼。该仪器的插图最早出现在文艺复兴时期的 16 世纪。这些插图被广泛使用，但该仪器的形状似乎与其功能不匹配。意大利里米尼的考古研究出土了一种形状似乎更适合切割颅骨的类似仪器。本研究的目的是评估这两种仪器切割颅骨的效果。
获得了这两种仪器的复制品。在羊头的左顶骨区域进行环钻。此外，还分析了文献中这些工具的应用。
罗马晶状体轻松地切割了颅骨。文艺复兴时期的仪器未能切割骨骼，仅将硬脑膜与骨骼分离。晶状体一直用于切割骨骼，直到 13 世纪。相比之下，文艺复兴时期的仪器不是用于切割骨骼，而是用于平滑粗糙的骨表面，并去除与硬脑膜接触的骨刺。
对医学出版物中的插图的分析应该与对文本的分析一样严格。
