A registration pointer for registering points of surfaces of bodily
elements in computer-assisted surgery, comprising a handle for being
manipulated by a pointer operator. A stem is connected to the handle and
has a first and a second tip configurations each having a respective use
relating to a registration of points on specified bodily elements. A
detectable device is secured to the stem, and is adapted to be tracked in
space for position and orientation by a sensing apparatus. A position of
the tip configurations with respect to the detectable device is
determinable such that a position of the tip configurations is calculable
as a function of the position and orientation of the detectable device.
The tip configurations are chosen to register points on given bodily
elements as a function of the respective use, by recording a position of
points of contact between the tip configurations and the given bodily
element.