decapitation

Decapitation, or beheading, is the act of removing the head from the body. It typically involves severing the neck at or near the upper spine and, in most instances, leads to immediate loss of consciousness and death due to disruption of blood flow to the brain and disruption of respiratory and autonomic functions. The word decapitation derives from Latin decapitare, from de- "remove" and caput "head".

Historically, decapitation has been used as a method of capital punishment and as a tactic in war. Instruments such as swords, axes, and, in the 18th and 19th centuries, the guillotine, have been employed in various cultures. Beheading also surfaces in ritual contexts and in symbolically charged narratives in literature and film. In recent decades, most countries have abolished capital punishment, and beheading is no longer a standard or legal method in many places, though it has been reported in acts of terrorism or civil conflict in some regions.

From a medical and forensic perspective, complete decapitation results in instantaneous death. Accidental decapitations are exceptionally rare and usually fatal at once; forensic examination would focus on the mechanism of injury, timing of death, and associated trauma.

Ethical, legal, and human rights frameworks generally condemn beheading as an inhumane form of punishment. In cultures and media, decapitation can function as a symbol of finality, punishment, or demonization, and may provoke strong ethical and emotional responses.