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Gross
Human
Dissection Course Information
The Gross Human Dissection course is offered over three or four day blocks. In this course, participants review the gross anatomy of the entire human body. Participants also perform regional dissections, under the guidance of anatomy faculty, with emphasis on clinical applications of gross anatomical structure and function. This human gross anatomy dissection course is designed to introduce the principal concepts, terminology, and basic structure of the human body. Emphasis will be on providing a fundamental working knowledge of the structure and function of the extremities, torso, head, major organ systems, peripheral nervous system, and vascular supply. This course will offer students the opportunity to learn, through dissection and demonstration of human cadaveric specimens, clinical and functional correlates of human anatomy.
Learning
Goals:
• You will learn the anatomy vocabulary necessary to communicate effectively as a Health care provider.
• You will develop an understanding of the three-dimensionality of the body, and the relationships of body structures.
• You will learn the surface and deep anatomy that is necessary to perform and understand a physical examination and treatment of a patient.
• You will develop a better understanding of anatomical “hot spots” and why these anatomical areas are clinically relevant.
• You will understand the origin of anatomical structure (embryology) and the basis for developmental abnormalities (birth defects).
• You will learn to appreciate human variation.
Gross Anatomy of the human body is taught from a regional viewpoint. The course includes 8 hours of lectures and laboratory components over 3 or 4 day blocks. Clinical anatomy is included throughout the course. Participant evaluation is based on the results of 1 written practical examination.
Cadaveric Dissection:
A Unique Opportunity
The cadaver is your best teacher. The person you dissect gave her or his body to you in order to allow you to become a well-trained Health care Provider. Use this gift wisely. Most of you will never have another opportunity to learn anatomy through dissection. The time you invest in dissection and learning in gross anatomy will benefit you throughout your career.
Prepare for Dissection
To maximize one's learning, it is essential to have prepared before coming to lab. Preparation is carried out by going over the laboratory manual, covering the appropriate dissection while carefully observing pictures of the region in your atlas or text. Look for 1) what structures are to be dissected, shape and size? 2) where are they located? 3) what continuities do they have with structures seen previously? 4) what are the relations of the structures to each other? This preparation is much like studying a road map before taking a trip. The next step is the cursory reading about the relevant region in the textbook to answer any questions that arise.
Texts are not written in order of dissections nor do dissections follow textual descriptive organization. Use the lab manual to determine area and topic. When starting a new region, read that part of the text which introduces the region; thereafter limit your reading to those specific topics and the extent of each that are necessary for the dissection. Do not read the text as you might read a novel, one page after the other and one chapter after the previous one. The text is like a dictionary or an encyclopedia. Read what information you need. Use the index to locate specifics if the textual headings do not assist you. Learn the organization of your text. The first chapter of the text gives general information and discusses general Anatomical Principles and should be read as you come to new systems and as indicated on the schedule.
Osteological Study
The skeleton exists throughout the body and is the point of attachment or reference for practically all components of the other systems of the body. One should not attempt to learn the individual bones alone, but to learn individual parts and processes as these occur within the context of dissection. These parts have been indicated in the dissections as points to be palpated or major points of attachment or contact of muscle. The bones provided in the lab are particularly useful for this process. In this manner, as with other systems, as a region is completed the skeletal element of that region will also be complete. Systematic review will then integrate the components of the system. Study of bones should be limited to: articulations, major processes of attachment, and major structural characteristics. The skull should be considered as a single integrated structure rather than as a complex of detailed individual bones. Radiographs showing the same landmarks should be reviewed when available as well.
Dissection
Dissecting is a simple procedure. It is merely the exposure of structures (muscles, arteries, veins, nerves, ligaments, organs, bones) so that their placement, orientation, shape, size and thickness, and their interrelationships with other structures may be readily observed. It is therefore implicit that care must be taken to remove all connective tissue and fat that would obscure this visibility. While exposing structures, or after they are exposed, read the text description so that your observations may be complete and accurate and the details are confirmed. A good plan is to have one of the non-dissectors read the appropriate text description aloud while the others dissect. Simple identification of a structure is not sufficient -- the question to ask is: "What is there about this structure that confirms its identification, i.e. why is it what it is and what is its significance?" Its identity often relates to its continuity and/or relationship to the surrounding structures. Likewise, it is insufficient to see only a 2 cm portion of a structure that may be 20 cm in length. Make sure the structure is completely exposed and cleaned so as to really visualize its anatomy and relationships. It is very important to review at the end of each day's work to fix the material firmly in your mind. When sexually dimorphic structures are dissected, it is important to review the anatomy of both sexes. Upon completion of each day's dissection, follow the procedures for "Care of the Cadaver" that will be provided in the laboratory.
Anatomical Variation
A biological variation is a deviation in structure from that of others of the same species. The human body, as in all biological entities, is subject to variation. There are variations that occur between individuals and between sides of the same individual. They occur in all organ systems. Most variations fall into the categories of size, shape, and degree. Patterns of branching of arteries and nerves are common variations. These constitute "normal" structure. The most important and common variations will be noted in the lab manual and should be learned. There are variations that may be considered "abnormal" since these fall into the category of incomplete development and over-development and are called ANOMALIES. We will provide a Medical Histories Data Base at each table to make Dissection Notes of all Anatomical Variations observed.
The student must not expect to find all structures exactly as they are described in texts or illustrated in atlases. These volumes present a pattern of anatomy that is considered average within the population. Photographic-type atlases present anatomy as seen in one individual and do not necessarily reflect the most common anatomy.
The anatomy sessions present average anatomy. The student is expected to learn and be examined on average anatomy. It is up to the student to observe, recognize, and appreciate variations when they are found. Clinically, it is important to be aware of and to recognize them when seen, but it is impossible to predict which variations will occur and to what extent in any given individual.
Anatomy Awards
The first award is the highly coveted, prestigious Demigods of Dissection award – which recognizes the table whose students conduct themselves in an exemplary fashion, that demonstrates superior dissection skills, excellent care for the cadaver and instruments, and consistent recording of Dissection Notes in the Medical Histories database.
The second award is the Quadruple E or Eagle Eye of Editorial Excellence Award, which goes to the individual who finds and accurately reports the most number of typos, broken links, and errors in the HIA web site. In order to be considered, bug reports should be very specific on location and nature of the problem.
The awards are presented at the end of the course at our Hawaiian Luau.