Formaldehyde smell in gross anatomy

[dentaltom]

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Hi,

I have a guestion about gross anantomy lab before I start it in three weeks. How powerful is the smell of formaldehyde in the lab? I ask this because as an undergrad I could barely dissect a cat for ten minutes before having to grab a napkin to wipe the tears from my eye or the snots from my nose. My face was literally inches away from the cat so I could see every nerve. I'm guessing we don't have to stick our faces into the cadaver like that, so maybe I won't have that problem?

 

[predentchick]

We used a full cadaver for my anatomy lab in undergrad and it wasn't too bad. It is kind of when you walk into a stinky room: at first you can smell it really strong, but as time goes on it goes away. By the end of class I couldn't smell it as bad, but when I got home my husband would say, "UUGH! You've been cutting on the dead guy, huh?" But if you are hypersensitive, it may be a problem for you....

 

[tinker bell]

I think human cadavers are much better embalmed than cats. Nobody in our class had any problem with formaldehyde. The odor sometimes can be bad, but certainly tears don't come down like u described.

 

[ecdoesit]

Hi, Tinker bell,
I thought ucsf has that high tech dissection lab where they have full suction to eliminate most odor. I visited their facility one time. It is pretty cool.

 

[tinker bell]

Yeah, thanks to those huge suction pipes. We never had any problems with odors, also, the embalmed technique was good. We don't smell like walking cadavers after lab. Oh, bring back good memories of dissection. I love anatomy

BTW, our anatomy lab is the most recent built in this country. We're very fortunate to have it, plus an excellent team of anatomy professors. They all add up to make anatomy so much fun

 

[dentaltom]

Thanks,

That's good to know. I think our school's anatomy lab is pretty new ,too. They also probably have a good ventilation system. I wasn't really worried anyway, since I knew I had the option of wearing a gas mask

 

[predentchick]

I am sure dental school anatomy labs are pretty much well ventilated. My experience I was describing was just a regular old classroom that it was in. No special vents, etc. So I am sure this next time around will be much better!

 

[PERFECT3435]

I think human cadavers are much better embalmed than cats. Nobody in our class had any problem with formaldehyde. The odor sometimes can be bad, but certainly tears don't come down like u described.

agree there.

so funny. i just came out of the shower because i thought i stink from being in the lab aaaaaaalll day today and then see this thread.

man my group got a very difficult one to work on. we have been spending 4 hrs (min) on it for the past 2 days and planning on doing the same tomorrow.

p.s we're dissecting the back and neck. hate looking for all those cranial nerves.

 

[unlv rocks]

If you don't want to deal with that stinky formaldehyde, then come to UNLV and play with the wax with us! Just beware of the stinky lecture hall...

 

[gatorchc27]

I'm assuming you spend time dissecting the head a face? How long does it take to get used to it?

 

[PERFECT3435]

couple of days. i was actually used to it from undergrad anatomy.

 

[ItsGavinC]

I am sure dental school anatomy labs are pretty much well ventilated.

OSHA mandates it. If they aren't = $$$$

 

[toothcaries]

you'll forget about any smells after the first 2 or 3 labs..
...however, your other professors, girlfriends, boyfriends, dogs, ect. wil remind u.

i actually forgot the cadavers were dead people until i noticed that i was alone...in the gross lab at 3am..the weekend before an exam..

 

[PERFECT3435]

man i spend more time with the cadevor than my fiance and daughter. it really sucks.
we have our 1st exam on wed and its a lot of stuff to learn. we are in school 7 days a week and at least 10 hrs each day.

i now realize what dental students meant when they said really enjoy the time off. lol

 

[c132]

OUr first gross test was a killer. I think the doc wanted us to think that it was going to be that hard for the rest of the time so we would study forever on it. The 2nd, and 3rd test was easy, I think I made a good A on them, then the final was tough. It all avg. out in the end to where it was EASY to make a C in, but the A was difficult to get. SO don't be disappointed if you do low on your first exam!!!!

 

[organic]

wear contact lens and double glove

😀

 

[predentchick]

If you don't want to deal with that stinky formaldehyde, then come to UNLV and play with the wax with us! Just beware of the stinky lecture hall...

So does UNLV use cadavers?

 

[cusp of carabelli]

just wait if someone actually slices through a colon of a cadaver that didn't quite finish discharging it's contents beforehand....that is 10000x worse than fromaldahyde. I seriously almost vomitted the first time i smelled it.

 

[c132]

just wait if someone actually slices through a colon of a cadaver that didn't quite finish discharging it's contents beforehand....that is 10000x worse than fromaldahyde. I seriously almost vomitted the first time i smelled it.

Hey just a ? They don't use formaldehyde anymore do they? That stuff is carcinogenic isn't it?

 

[DDSSlave]

Remember to double glove and use your designated "gross" scrubs. When you get home, throw them into a tied plastic bag until ready to wash.

Good luck on all of your upcoming practicals. Gross anatomy is certainly a rite of passage.

c132, yeah I think they use a formalyn mix now? Smells the same though.

 

[PERFECT3435]

Remember to double glove and use your designated "gross" scrubs. When you get home, throw them into a tied plastic bag until ready to wash.

thats too much work man.

i hate to say this, but the other day i was studying for the antomy midterm (2 am) when i remembered that i had splashed some liquids on my hair earlier that day. you know if it wasn't for just remembering it, i wouldn't even have noticed that i stunk

boy i hated having to take a shower at that time.lol

 

[DDSSlave]

thats too much work man.

i hate to say this, but the other day i was studying for the antomy midterm (2 am) when i remembered that i had splashed some liquids on my hair earlier that day. you know if it wasn't for just remembering it, i wouldn't even have noticed that i stunk

boy i hated having to take a shower at that time.lol

Doesn't help when you have a wife reminding you how much you stink 😀

 

[drPheta]

Wow, I'm gone for a month and 50 bajillion posts pop up. You guys crack me up. Splashed it in your hair? Gross.

I think the smell is something you'll quickly forget. Within a couple days, it got comfortable enough for me to be in there like Sphinx from Gone in 60 Seconds. I could have eaten in there if they allowed it. In all seriousness, everyone got very hungry while working on the cadavers. VERY hungry. You could hear stomachs grumbling all over the place.

However, you'll quickly forget about the formyl quickly when you start working on fatty tissue that's drizzling all over the lab table. Now, THAT's something you won't forget. It also smells funkier than the preserving agent.

 

[PERFECT3435]

speaking of fatty tissue. man i couldn't tell you how much trouble my group has been having with the dissection. the one that my group and i are deissecting has at least 4 inches of fat to go through before you see any arteries, veins, muscles, etc

it looked very gross for the 1st week. now? well we spend so much time with that body that nothing seems gross anymore. heck my gloves ripped apart and i didn't even care. yo ujust have to do what you have to do to learn your stuff. as far as the smell goes, you just use some lemon juice to wash your hands with and you are golden.

what really sucks about the lab is that we have about 20 stations (cadavors) to study before our exams. i just had my practical exam last wed and boy it was hard to identify every thing on all 20 cadavors. it was almost impossible to go through all 20 bodies and find every structure that we were covering for the exam. i almost lived in that lab last week and still couldn't get through all the stuff.

now i am just keeping my fingers crossed. i get my results next week.
😱

 

[dentaltom]

Based upon your current knowledge of gross anatomy--in what area of the body would a physical blow stimulate the greatest nervous response?


Thank you