thumb|Beheadings in an illumination from Froissart's Chronicles from the beginning of the 15th century – the execution of Guillaume Sans and his secretary in Bordeaux on the orders of Thomas Felton thumb|Perseus using the severed head of Medusa to turn King Polydectes to stone thumb|Depiction of an Ethiopian emperor executing people, 18th century Decapitation is the total separation of the head from the body. Such an injury is invariably fatal to humans and most other animals, since it deprives the brain of oxygenated blood by way of severing through the jugular vein and common carotid artery, while all other organs are deprived of the involuntary functions that are needed for the body to function. The term beheading refers to the act of deliberately decapitating a person, either as a means of murder or as an execution; it may be performed with an axe, sword, or knife, or by mechanical means such as a guillotine. An executioner who carries out executions by beheading is sometimes called a headsman. Accidental decapitation can be the result of an explosion, a car or industrial accident, improperly administered execution by hanging or other violent injury. The national laws of Saudi Arabia and Yemen permit beheading. Under Sharia, which exclusively applies to Muslims, beheading is also a legal punishment in Zamfara State, Nigeria. In practice, Saudi Arabia is the only country that continues to behead its offenders regularly as a punishment for capital crimes. Cases of decapitation by suicidal hanging, suicide by train decapitation and by guillotine are known.
thumb|beheadings in an illumination from froissart's chronicles from the beginning of the 15th century – the execution of guillaume sans and his secretary in bordeaux on the orders of thomas felton thumb|perseus using the severed head of medusa to turn king polydectes to stone thumb|depiction of an ethiopian emperor executing people 18th century decapitation is the total separation of the head from the body such an injury is invariably fatal to humans and most other animals since it deprives the brain of oxygenated blood by way of severing through the jugular vein and common carotid artery while all other organs are deprived of the involuntary functions that are needed for the body to function the term beheading refers to the act of deliberately decapitating a person either as a means of murder or as an execution; it may be performed with an axe sword or knife or by mechanical means such as a guillotine an executioner who carries out executions by beheading is sometimes called a headsman accidental decapitation can be the result of an explosion a car or industrial accident improperly administered execution by hanging or other violent injury the national laws of saudi arabia and yemen permit beheading under sharia which exclusively applies to muslims beheading is also a legal punishment in zamfara state nigeria in practice saudi arabia is the only country that continues to behead its offenders regularly as a punishment for capital crimes cases of decapitation by suicidal hanging suicide by train decapitation and by guillotine are known