Quantitative comparison of cranial approaches in the anatomy laboratory: A neuronavigation based research method

Figure 1 Schematic description of a surgical approach, as a “truncated pyramid”[4,5]: (1) Superficial surface (A), more commonly defined “surgical window” or “access area”; it represents the area through which instruments are introduced to work at the level of the deep area; (2) deep surface (B), usually defined “area of exposure”, as it is the surface exposed by the approach; and (3) height of the truncated pyramid (dotted line). Volume and trajectory of this pyramid complete the essential anatomical definition of a neurosurgical approach. Background head image is from: Studies of human skull, Leonardo Da Vinci, supplied by Royal Collection Trust ©Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2016.