Platicized prosected cadavers

[Monty Python]

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Lurking on several other forums, I noted some med schools have turned to reusable, plasticized, prosected cadavers. Any DO schools use them?

The selling points frequently mentioned are:

1. increasing difficulty and expense of obtaining single use cadavers every year

2. students can spend time and focus on learning the anatomy without spending hours trying to dissect (ie, not destroy) the structures

3. no freshmen reeking of formaldehyde in the cafeteria

4. makes for fairer practical exams

 

[Dr Sum Day]

Lurking on several other forums, I noted some med schools have turned to reusable, plasticized, prosected cadavers. Any DO schools use them?

The selling points frequently mentioned are:

1. increasing difficulty and expense of obtaining single use cadavers every year

2. students can spend time and focus on learning the anatomy without spending hours trying to dissect (ie, not destroy) the structures

3. no freshmen reeking of formaldehyde in the cafeteria

4. makes for fairer practical exams

LECOM-Erie, but I'm not sure about the reusable and plasticized part 😛

 

[1viking]

by using prossected bodies one is losing a very valuable part of the dissection--an appreciation for skin and fascia (u can't forget the largest organ in the body!). I am very glad we dissected. Sure, I would have learned the "more important" structures quicker, but there is something to be said for learning the skill of blunt dissection. I say stay away from those schools as my "opinion".

 

[misyel]

For me, I kinda liked dissecting. I feel it's also a "rite of passage" of being a first year med student. Just wait until you have to work on the pelvis/perineum area....

Michele

 

[OSUdoc08]

Lurking on several other forums, I noted some med schools have turned to reusable, plasticized, prosected cadavers. Any DO schools use them?

The selling points frequently mentioned are:

1. increasing difficulty and expense of obtaining single use cadavers every year

2. students can spend time and focus on learning the anatomy without spending hours trying to dissect (ie, not destroy) the structures

3. no freshmen reeking of formaldehyde in the cafeteria

4. makes for fairer practical exams

1. You don't pay for dead bodies. They are donations.

2. Dissecting is part of the learning process. Your first time holding a scalpel should not be on a live patient.

3. That's why you bathe.

4. Fairer---or easier?

 

[Drugtech]

Any DO schools use them?

Ga-PCOM is using plastinated specimens as a supplement, but we're still going to dissect full cadavers as well. If you've ever had an A&P or Comparative Anatomy course you realize the importance of spending time to find the various anatomical parts. I think they are a good supplement, but not a replacement. Just my 2 pennies. 😀

 

[jonb12997]

the stuff I remember the best in anatomy was the stuff I spent the time picking fascia off and separating the muscles (all the hyoid muscles for example), the stuff I remember the least is the stuff that one of my partners spent the time disecting out... summary: disecting is annoying and tedious, but a good way to learn!

 

[tarheel04]

1. You don't pay for dead bodies. They are donations.

2. Dissecting is part of the learning process. Your first time holding a scalpel should not be on a live patient.

3. That's why you bathe.

4. Fairer---or easier?

Although the bodies are donations, there is considerable expense when it comes to preserving and storing.

 

[OSUdoc08]

Although the bodies are donations, there is considerable expense when it comes to preserving and storing.

We have bodies stacked on each other 3 high in the freezers, and the preservation isn't much more expensive than that done in a funeral home.

 

[thefridge]

Maybe, I'm the only one who feels this, but dissection in general is probably a little over rated. Its an interesting experience for those who've done some dissecting, but lets be honest. Half the time spent is picking apart skin, connective tissue, fat.... etc. And then not to mention mistakes can lead to structures and nerves being destroyed and then you're back at square one.

Also, I've long held the notion that it makes sense for students to handle bodies as early and often as possible. But, these are preserved dead bodies. Even if you were to go into surgery, live human procedures isn't like digging around cadavers. At least personally, I hope I won't be standing over too many dead bodies when I become a doctor 🙂

 

[OSUdoc08]

Maybe, I'm the only one who feels this, but dissection in general is probably a little over rated. Its an interesting experience for those who've done some dissecting, but lets be honest. Half the time spent is picking apart skin, connective tissue, fat.... etc. And then not to mention mistakes can lead to structures and nerves being destroyed and then you're back at square one.

Also, I've long held the notion that it makes sense for students to handle bodies as early and often as possible. But, these are preserved dead bodies. Even if you were to go into surgery, live human procedures isn't like digging around cadavers. At least personally, I hope I won't be standing over too many dead bodies when I become a doctor 🙂

Yes, it's annoying to dissect, but it is a neccessary evil.

I remember getting pissed when I was in high school and they decided to do CD-ROM dissections on animals instead of real ones.

If we start with plasticized cadavers---soon enough they will be on CD-ROM only.

Then one day you can get your medical degree on the internet at home!

 

[sfrduder]

preservation is very expensive. I dont know how your school deals with cost, but i know that price is an issue for many schools

 

[Megalofyia]

Ga-PCOM is using plastinated specimens as a supplement, but we're still going to dissect full cadavers as well.

So is WVSOM.

preservation is very expensive. I dont know how your school deals with cost, but i know that price is an issue for many schools

It is, but the OP is suggesting it would be a one time fee. . . or rather in frequently.

Personally if I had my choice I'd go with plastinated specimens instead of cadavers.

I dont think it would lead to CD dicections. The idea of high school's using CDs for disections was because of animal cruelty.

We disected all sorts of animals in high school and college and really I actually got a lot more learning of anatomy on the computer programs for the animals, due to various reasons. Plus we wasted a lot of time getting the disections done in lab.

Then one day you can get your medical degree on the internet at home!

And how different is this from schools that have independent tracts?

 

[mrm1682]

just remember that schools that use prosected usually provide "summer jobs" for students (between 1st and 2nd years) that want the experience of dissecting. this way, you can focus on studying during the school year and then dig through the fat, CT, etc during the summer. plus, i think you'll have a far greater appreciation for the dissection when you actually know what you're searching for.

 

[OSUdoc08]

just remember that schools that use prosected usually provide "summer jobs" for students (between 1st and 2nd years) that want the experience of dissecting. this way, you can focus on studying during the school year and then dig through the fat, CT, etc during the summer. plus, i think you'll have a far greater appreciation for the dissection when you actually know what you're searching for.

Our school has several prosected cadavers as examples to compare with the dissection. If structures aren't visible on the dissected cadavers, the prosected bodies would be used for test questions.

 

[mcandy]

You need to dissect to appreciate relationships between structures and tissues. So many bodies are different. yes is does suck at times, but it is the process of taking an artery or a nerve and tracing it around a bone or through a group of muscles that makes you learn. It will especially help you gain an understanding of fascial relationships...tell me there is a better way to understand the relationships of tissues, reflections, and layers in the peritoneum. Prosections are great for review or for when you need a little guidance or when the dissection is difficult and stuff gets ruined (H+N). Rohen works just as well.

For 34K, my school can suck up the cost of providing me with the best tools to learn. The anatomy dept. also self funds by offering surgical/fresh tissue/join replacement labs to professionals, it provides prosected specimens to a number of MD schools, and bodies to a number of those same schools. They employ a lot of students in the summer as well. Like Jon B said, the stuff I know best, is the stuff I got the dirtiest in...I will never forget the pterygopalantine fossa, the anastamoses aroud the knee, or the superior mesenteric ganglion!

 

[got-it]

So is WVSOM.

So does OU, they taunted having one of the greatest tech for this process untill a year or so ago...

 

[got-it]

Then one day you can get your medical degree on the internet at home!

Darn it! I knew I should have waited a bit longer!

Hmmm, attend neuro or biochem in your pj's! yahoo!!!


I can see it now, first graduate of a 4 year on line med program meeting a patient for the first time....


Ah, Mr. Jones, just wait one minute. I need to set up this video camera and begin our consultation via video phone!!! ha ...ha...


ok...it is a joke I understand the importance of telemedicine and this in no way reflects my feelings towards telemed....

 

[Megalofyia]

Hmmm, attend neuro or biochem in your pj's! yahoo!!!

My host for Drexel said she's "attended" all her lectures in her pj's because she just stays at home at watches the streaming video.