ABSTRACT
The aim of this chapter is to introduce you to a series of principles that affect all aspects of surgery.
At the end of reading and understanding this chapter, you will have a framework to allow you to plan, think through and carry out an operation in general terms. You should be able to demonstrate this by describing the steps involved in the generic envelope that surrounds each individual operation.
The head and neck in general, and the mouth in particular, are remarkably forgiving areas in which to work. Partly this is because of an excellent blood supply, and partly it is because of the robust and
