Head transplant

Head Transplant

A Head Transplant (pronunciation: /hɛd trænsˈplænt/) is a surgical operation involving the grafting of one organism's head onto the body of another. In many instances, it is a highly experimental procedure carried out on animals to advance scientific knowledge about organ transplantation, brain injury recovery, and the nature of personal identity.

Etymology

The term "Head Transplant" is derived from the English words "head" (from Old English "heafod") and "transplant" (from Latin "transplantare" meaning "to move and plant").

Procedure

The procedure of a head transplant involves decapitating the patient and the donor. The patient's head is then moved onto the donor's body and the two are reconnected. This involves connecting the spinal cord, blood vessels, and muscles. The patient is then kept in a coma for several weeks to prevent movement and to allow healing. The patient would then, theoretically, wake up with a new body.

History

The concept of head transplants has been a part of human culture for centuries, with mythical creatures like the Hydra and Cerberus in ancient Greek mythology. The first real head transplant was carried out on a dog by Soviet surgeon Vladimir Demikhov in 1954. The first successful head transplant, where the animal was able to survive for a short period after the operation, was carried out on a monkey by American neurosurgeon Robert J. White in 1970.

Ethical and Legal Issues

There are many ethical and legal issues surrounding head transplants. These include the potential for identity issues, the high risk of the procedure, and the question of consent from the donor. The procedure is currently not considered ethically or legally acceptable in most countries.

Related Terms

• Organ Transplant
• Neurosurgery
• Spinal Cord
• Brain Injury
• Personal Identity

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Head transplant
• Wikipedia's article - Head transplant

This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.

---

Languages: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski