Was wondering, did any of you have a hard time identifying structures when you first encountered surgical anatomy? I have a visual memory and can picture Netter pictures so well in my mind, but when my attendings are pimping me during a case, many times, I answer incorrectly. Of course, it would also help if I could handle the structures and examine them in relation to others. It's just so hard to correctly identify a structure with one small glimpse. Would love to hear about other surgeons' early experiences and how long it may have taken you to feel comfortable with surgical anatomy.
Identifying structures
- Thread starter Micro115
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Hey im just a med student, but I can add that after seeing the same procedure in repetitive doses (particularly after consulting netter in the mean) it becomes way clearer.
/still get questions wrong
//constantly
///organ procurements are money for seeing abdominal anat
/still get questions wrong
//constantly
///organ procurements are money for seeing abdominal anat
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MS4 here, so...
During my core surgery clerkship, the resident suggested I use a surgical atlas to study, instead of netters. I am going into surgery, so I went ahead and ponied up the cash to get Operative Anatomy by Scott-O'Conner (i think thats the author). It really helped alot in the intra-operative pimping. You might check to see if your library or hospital has a copy of some surgical atlas available...
During my core surgery clerkship, the resident suggested I use a surgical atlas to study, instead of netters. I am going into surgery, so I went ahead and ponied up the cash to get Operative Anatomy by Scott-O'Conner (i think thats the author). It really helped alot in the intra-operative pimping. You might check to see if your library or hospital has a copy of some surgical atlas available...
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Surgical anatomy does not look like Netter's. Almost everyone has a difficult time in the OR - couple the fact that it looks different with the pressure of being pimped and its no wonder that you might get it wrong.
Repetitive exposure is key - if not for the fact that most attendings ask the same questions over and over.
Start with reviewing the relevant anatomy before the case if you know ahead of time what you will be doing.
When asked what a certain structure is, start with the obvious (in your mind - is it a muscle, a vein, an artery, an organ). Then start narrowing things down - what lives in that area? And realize that some questions will be unfair - it can be hard to name a vessel if you can't see the origin or end organ.
If you can't name the anatomy right off the bat, I'd give you points for saying that the vessel appears to be running behind theneck of the pancreas and I know that the SMV/SMA can be found there...etc.
Repetitive exposure is key - if not for the fact that most attendings ask the same questions over and over.
Start with reviewing the relevant anatomy before the case if you know ahead of time what you will be doing.
When asked what a certain structure is, start with the obvious (in your mind - is it a muscle, a vein, an artery, an organ). Then start narrowing things down - what lives in that area? And realize that some questions will be unfair - it can be hard to name a vessel if you can't see the origin or end organ.
If you can't name the anatomy right off the bat, I'd give you points for saying that the vessel appears to be running behind theneck of the pancreas and I know that the SMV/SMA can be found there...etc.
B
Blade28
Remember that anatomy in Netter's (or even in the gross lab) looks NOTHING like anatomy in the OR.
One of the reasons for this is the fact that you're looking at so-called "surgical anatomy" - which usually means you're looking at structures inside a small incision with limited exposure. So relationships and natural positions can become distorted. The fact that many nerves, arteries and veins look the same color in real life (versus yellow, red and blue, respectively, in Netter) makes things difficult as well.
One of the reasons for this is the fact that you're looking at so-called "surgical anatomy" - which usually means you're looking at structures inside a small incision with limited exposure. So relationships and natural positions can become distorted. The fact that many nerves, arteries and veins look the same color in real life (versus yellow, red and blue, respectively, in Netter) makes things difficult as well.
