Why the Funnel in Neurosurgery?

Abstract

According to Cambridge Dictionary, Funnel is an object that has a wide round opening at the top, sloping sides, and a narrow tube at the bottom, used for pouring liquids or powders into containers with narrow necks.From an semplified anatomic point of view, the skull base along with its offshoot, the spine, replicate a bone funnel as a vessel sustaining the brain, the cerebellum and the spinal cord along with cranial and radicular nerves. Non doubt at all that the knowledge of the embryology, anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology and the more effective surgical pathways to engage and remove surgical diseases is of paramount importance in the surgical cultural heritage to be strongly encouraged and supported in young neurosurgeons.So to the steps that seem to emerge from this Issue of Acta Neurochirurgica suppl are exploratory, strategic, tactical and finally operational. From the skull base to the sacrum we meet a macrosystem of anatomic and functional complex network with a common embryological hystory as well as contiguity. Different skills are necessary to face with a 360° universe of functions and diseases to deal with. Intelligence and culture as knowledge of both anatomy and pathology help to elaborate the STRATEGY while technical and manual supports are part of the TACTIC armamentarium which is proactive and determinant to the final OPERATIONAL step.