Final answer:
Taxidermy is the practice of removing and displaying the head and skin of a dead animal. It is an art form used for display or study and is separate from medical practices such as embalming, craniotomy, or the study of dermatology.
Step-by-step explanation:
The practice of removing and displaying the head and skin of a dead animal is referred to as taxidermy. Taxidermy is an art form that involves preparing, stuffing, and mounting the skins of animals with lifelike effect, often for display or study.
It is distinct from practices such as embalming, which is the art and science of preserving human remains, or craniotomy, a surgical operation where a bone flap is temporarily removed from the skull to access the brain. The other term mentioned, dermatology, is a branch of medicine dealing with the skin and its diseases.
Throughout history, human anatomy has been a subject of great interest and sometimes associated with various practices like studying internal structures, dissections, and the use of X-rays for observing living body structures.
In contrast to these medical approaches, taxidermy does not contribute to knowledge of anatomy but rather conserves the animal's external appearance for educational or aesthetic purposes.