a cutting open of the skull (especially of a fetal head when it obstructs delivery), 1817, from cranio- "of the skull" + -tomy "a cutting."
Entries linking to craniotomy
cranio-
word-forming element meaning "of the skull," from Latinized combining form of Greek kranion "skull" (see cranium).
-tomy
word-forming element meaning "a cutting" (especially a surgical incision or removal), from Greek -tomia "a cutting of," from tome "a cutting, section" (from PIE root *tem- "to cut").