If the Skull bone on top of your head was removed would you brain function?

Question

I watched a movie that other day where this guy got scalped in this movie and was woundering if like a piece of bone was taken off the top of the skull exposing the brain, would your brain even be able to function, or would you not live long? See I don't know what would happen.

Answer 1

There is another covering over the brain, called the dura mater - it's like a heavy membrane between the brain and the skull bone. But you would be surprised at how many people have had bone removed from the skull and a metal plate put in to replace it. People who have been injured in the war (shrapnel was a big causative factor during WW1 and 2) or in traffic accidents or industrial accidents, farm accidents -- a surprising number of people have lost bone from the top of their heads. . The brain is amazingly sturdy, and unless the brain itself was damaged, it would still function. The main concern would be keeping it sterile and keeping it moist.
This isn't a new problem -- there are mummies from Ancient Egypt who had been trepanned (that's what they call opening a hole in the top of the skull and taking a piece of bone out) and who survived the operation. We know they survived because the edges of the bone showed signs of growth and regeneration, so that meant they lived months or years after the operation.

Answer 2

Yes. Just watch Saw III. Haha, on a serious note, yes.

I found this interesting read:

The anterior fontanel is the largest of six soft spots on the newborn's head. Located at the top of the head, the fontanel is an area where the skull bones have not yet fused together. A thick, fibrous membrane under the skin provides some protection and the fontanel skin pulsates as the newborn breathes.

New parents are often worried about protecting this "hole" in their newborn's head. Indeed, the fontanel must rank as one of the most common parent concerns. The idea that an area of the brain is unprotected by the skull is frightening. What if the baby falls or the parent accidentally pokes a finger through the fontanel?

Again, new parents shouldn’t get too anxious over this. While aggressively poking the fontanel is obviously not acceptable, it's perfectly safe to handle the newborn's head. As for falls, the fontanel actually helps prevent injury in an average fall: the unfused bones provide a cushion to minimize injury. Only a serious fall or a fall onto a sharp object could pierce the fontanel.

Answer 3

The .25 would easily penetrate a human skull and a motorbike helmet. Skulls and motorbike helmets are designed to protect against low velocity blunt impact such as hitting your head against the ground or road , they are not designed for protection against high velocity point impact as delivered by a bullet. I have shot many fully grown cattle and hogs for home consumption on a farm where I worked for sixteen years , I used a .22 LR rifle and one shot from two yards into the brain killed them instantly. The skull of a fully grown cow or hog is thicker than a human skull. The ballistics of the .22 LR are very similar to the .25 so I have no doubt that the .25 would penetrate a human skull and go right through the brain and come to rest against the inside of the skull on the other side. As for taking calcium supplements that would make no difference to skull strength as once the skull is formed only a certain amount of calcium is needed for maintenance any extra is not absorbed by the body.

Answer 4

yes, but a plate would have to be placed in place of the bone to prevent damage to the brain. the skull is protection of the very fragile brain. even a small movement of the brain can cause damage. this is why you must take care of the soft spot on infants and children. if i child gets hit on the soft spot or if someone shaked a child vigorously the brain can move and have damage. but mainly, yes it can still function with out the skull as long as there is not damage to it.

this is all provided the brain was covered up and closed as in surgery. but if someone was scalped, they wouldnot live very long.the brain would get damaged when the scalper was removing the skull and doing whatever it is they plan on doing.

but a interesting fact is that the brain does not have any sensory nerves like you have in the rest of the body. you would not feel pain in your brain if it was tampered with, only in your skin.

Answer 5

The skull is protection for your brain. This is because the brain is very fragile. When you wear a helmet to go biking you are basically souping up your skull, but the helmit is not part of your brain. If the top of the skull was removed in aseptic (sterile) conditions you would not be killed providing there were no other unforeseen complications. You wouldn't want to bump your head though.

A bigger problem with having a piece of your scalp removed would be loss of skin and tissue. The skin is your body's first defence against bacteria, although this is not all of the problems associated with open and missing skin and tissue it is a major threat.

Answer 6

I have heard of medical procedures where part of the skull is removed and the brain still functions - so long as the brain is not injured it will function - the skull keeps it protected.
If it was open to the elements (wind rain sunlight etc) I dont think it would last too long though.

Answer 7

Your bran would continue to function for a short time, but assuming you didn't die within the hour of shock and blood loss, and your brain didn't injure itself from swelling from the trauma, and you were actually able to keep the wound covered and hydrated, you'd probably die of infection within a week.

You chances would be better if the dura mater (the tough membrane protecting your brain) were intact, but i assume you're talking about full brain exposure.

Answer 8

Yes

Answer 9

Yes, for a while, until it got infected. But assuming you were in a clean room with no bacteria or anything harmful in the air, and it was hydrated and not inflamed, you could probably live for quite a while.

Answer 10

Yes, your brain would function, but not 4 very long...