Another Day in the Frontal Lobe: A Brain Surgeon Exposes Life on the Inside.ANOTHER DAY IN THE FRONTAL LOBE frontal lobe n. The largest portion of each cerebral hemisphere, anterior to the central sulcus. Frontal lobe The largest, most forward-facing part of each side or hemisphere of the brain. : A Brain Surgeon Noun 1. brain surgeon - someone who does surgery on the nervous system (especially the brain) neurosurgeon operating surgeon, sawbones, surgeon - a physician who specializes in surgery Exposes Life on the Inside KATRINA FIRLIK A neurosurgeon neurosurgeon a physician who specializes in neurosurgery. neurosurgeon A surgeon specialized in managing diseases of the brain, spine and peripheral nerves Meat & potatoes diseases Brain tumors, spinal cord disease Salary $245K + 15% bonus. needs extensive knowledge of the brain, nerves of steel, and a good dose of arrogance, writes Firlik, who is among the 5 percent of all practicing U.S. neurosurgeons who are women. She offers a personal glimpse into her career, which she says is that of a part-time scientist and part-time mechanic. The author describes her earliest forays into a child's version of medical research, including an experiment on inducing strokes in gerbils. Later, she faced the culture of neurosurgery neurosurgery /neu·ro·sur·gery/ (noor´o-sur?jer-e) surgery of the nervous system. neu·ro·sur·ger·y n. Surgery on any part of the nervous system. and then endured the routine of life as a perpetually sleep-deprived surgery resident. She recounts her education in the technical aspects of surgery, such as incision types, as well as the emotional turmoil she underwent the first time she delivered news of a brain tumor Brain Tumor Definition A brain tumor is an abnormal growth of tissue in the brain. Unlike other tumors, brain tumors spread by local extension and rarely metastasize (spread) outside the brain. to a patient. Firlik offers her philosophy on the nature of intelligence and comments on the ethical dilemmas neurosurgeons face. She also predicts the future of neuroscience, including what she calls "brain lifts" that will offer cognitive enhancements. Random House, 2006, 288 p., hardcover, $24.95. |
|
||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion