Stereotactic Surgery of the Thalamus

The thalamus is the main and largest part of the diencephalon, the surgery of which is the subject of this volume. The original meaning of the Greek word “thalamos” is “connubial couch.” It is difficult now to understand the fantasy of the ancient anatomists who gave it such an unusual allegorical title, but we may suppose that they did so because this part of the brain, like the connubial couch, was hidden from strangers’ views.