pithing
Spinal cord severing
Pithing is the destruction of the brain or spinal cord, typically by inserting a needle or rod into the skull or vertebrae.
The technique kills or immobilizes an animal quickly—used in slaughterhouses, laboratories, and to dispatch injured animals.
In biology class, students pith frogs before dissection: The frog was pithed to prevent reflexive movement during the experiment.
Brain's extension through vertebrae
- brainstemLower neural trunk
- medullaInnermost organ tissue
- cerebellumMovement coordination organ
- neuronsSignal-transmitting brain cells
central nervous system · reflexes · transection · lesion · ablation · nervous system · neurophysiology · electrophysiology
Leaping, croaking amphibians
- amphibiansVertebrates with aquatic larvae
- dissectionAnatomical cutting and examination
- specimenIndividual for examination
- experimentsTests of a hypothesis
vivisection · physiology · zoology · anesthesia · research · preparation · biology · protocol
Domesticated bovines kept commercially
- livestockDomesticated farm animals
- stunningExtremely impressive or beautiful
- abattoirMeat processing facility
- dispatchSend with speed
humane · bolt · killing · butchery · meat processing · animal welfare · regulations · unconsciousness
Pointed implement for sewing
- probeThorough examination or tool
- insertionPlacing something within
- destructionAct of completely ruining
- severingCutting apart completely
incision · precision · dexterity · skillfulness · accuracy · delicacy · exactness · methodical
spinal cord
Brain's extension through vertebrae
- brainstemLower neural trunk
- medullaInnermost organ tissue
- cerebellumMovement coordination organ
neurons · central nervous system · reflexes · transection · lesion · ablation · nervous system · neurophysiology · electrophysiology · axon
frogs
Leaping, croaking amphibians
- amphibiansVertebrates with aquatic larvae
- dissectionAnatomical cutting and examination
- specimenIndividual for examination
experiments · vivisection · physiology · zoology · anesthesia · research · preparation · biology · protocol · humane
cattle
Domesticated bovines kept commercially
- livestockDomesticated farm animals
- stunningExtremely impressive or beautiful
- abattoirMeat processing facility
dispatch · humane · bolt · killing · butchery · meat processing · animal welfare · regulations · unconsciousness · cervical
needle
Pointed implement for sewing
- probeThorough examination or tool
- insertionPlacing something within
- destructionAct of completely ruining
severing · incision · precision · dexterity · skillfulness · accuracy · delicacy · exactness · methodical · careful
pithingblunt trauma
Damage from non-penetrating force
bludgeoning · blunt force · stunning · clubbing · crushing
pithingneuroprotection
Safeguarding neurons from damage
resuscitation · reviving · revival · life support · healing
pithingawakening
Return to consciousness
rousing · stimulating · enlivening · activating · arousing