Taking human anatomy

[qkchen]

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dear members of the SDN community,

i would like to begin by first congratulating everyone that has been accepted somewhere. for those who are still interview or have yet to hear back from schools, i hope you guys stay positive and to not lose hope. i believe that we will all make wonderful, talented dentists no matter where we attend school.

my question is one concerning whether i should enroll in an anatomy course or not before matriculation. basically, i've never taken anatomy during undergrad or grad and needed some advice on how i should proceed. do you think i should just bite the bullet and take a course or just try to self-learn some anatomy?

if i am going to teach myself some anatomy, what resources are best? i am writing this poll for NYU College of Dentistry in mind. and i've heard NYU is going to be brutal so i'm just trying to prepare myself mentally.

i kind of designed the poll for people already in dental school but anybody can chime in.

 

[dantemac]

It will help you with the gross memorization and dissection skills. However, the class can not replace your dental school anatomy class. And very few schools (Midwestern AZ) actually require it for admission.

My two cents is don't worry about it. It can only help, but don't go out of your way to take it.

 

[dentalWorks]

The only time I would ever recommend gross anatomy before dental school is if and ONLY IF there is cadaver lab involved. Without cadavers, ur wasting your money and time.

 

[AwesomeTeeth]

Self learn? Good luck with that. You're going to give up. It's some of the driest reading you'll ever see and there's a million names/terms for everything. Without a test/practical/lab for motivation, you're not going to want to do it at all.

Take the class with a lab. It'll definitely help. 👍

 

[SupDanLOL]

I had gross anatomy with a lab on cadaver. I was told by returning med/dental students to absolutely take it because it would be the single most helpful course I could take as an undergrad for my first year.

I would be really anxious for anatomy next fall had I not taken this course.

 

[wwuviking]

The only time I would ever recommend gross anatomy before dental school is if and ONLY IF there is cadaver lab involved. Without cadavers, ur wasting your money and time.

cadavers really do make anatomy much more interesting! I was lucky enough to work with them and although it takes up a bunch of time, it was my favorite class...but that was over OC and Physics...🙂

All in all if you are interested in learning the material..go for it..if not take something else that peaks ur interest!

 

[persenmi]

Of course it'll help. You should also take microbiology, physiology, biochemistry, and immunology. D-school moves FAST.

 

[qkchen]

Of course it'll help. You should also take microbiology, physiology, biochemistry, and immunology. D-school moves FAST.

yup, i've taken all those courses already, as well as virology, embryology and pathogenesis, except for anatomy so this was the source of my dilemma 😛

 

[DentalCavity]

I bought anatomy flashcards and have been studying independently for approx four hours a day. I definitely think its worth it. I would rather be ahead of the game then struggling to catch up or even remain on par.

 

[MuskieMan33]

I'd say take it. I am, but I have to either take that, a 3000 level course, (and Physiology) or I could take A&P 1&2 (both 2000 level). So if I took A&P, I would have to take two more 3000 level bio classes to meet the upper level graduation requirements. 2 courses > 4 courses. It looks as though you are set in that area. Speaking of Immunology, how was it? I'm enrolled in it for next semester.

 

[dentalWorks]

cadavers really do make anatomy much more interesting! I was lucky enough to work with them and although it takes up a bunch of time, it was my favorite class...but that was over OC and Physics...🙂

All in all if you are interested in learning the material..go for it..if not take something else that peaks ur interest!

its not just that....

If you end up in a dental school with a disorganized cadaver lab (the only thing that breaks my heart about Detroit Mercy) you will have a hard time. They will expect you to know ALOT of structures for each practical, but no help at all learning / finding structures. Most of the time, we depend on other students in the class whom have heavy undergrad / masters degrees in anatomy related field to help us..... Its REALLY messed up.

IMO, the ONLY one class that will make your DS1 tolerable vs miserable is cadaver anatomy experience.

 

[qkchen]

Thank you all for your feedback, I think I will look into taking an anatomy class, but probably at a community college. I know they probably won't have cadavers but having some prior anatomy course is better than none. I think I would be interested in this subject anyways. Now I just need to save up enough money.

For MuskieMan33, where I went to undergrad in Canada, immunology was one of the more challenging courses one could during undergrad, but do not let this discourage you because everyone school differs. Certain immunology topics were touched upon in other biology classes, so some lectures may be review while others were brand new. Anyways, I'm only speaking from experience, but I think immunology is doable.

 

[LaFleur]

Thank you all for your feedback, I think I will look into taking an anatomy class, but probably at a community college. I know they probably won't have cadavers but having some prior anatomy course is better than none. I think I would be interested in this subject anyways. Now I just need to save up enough money.

For MuskieMan33, where I went to undergrad in Canada, immunology was one of the more challenging courses one could during undergrad, but do not let this discourage you because everyone school differs. Certain immunology topics were touched upon in other biology classes, so some lectures may be review while others were brand new. Anyways, I'm only speaking from experience, but I think immunology is doable.

I also think immuno is doable. And really interesting.

Edit: I don't think immuno is too hard. Physio is kicking my butt much, much harder right now.

 

[Barking Lamb]

I don't have the thread on hand, however, some of the students from NYU posted that anatomy was one of their easiest classes.

NYU also tends to score 10% higher than the national average (in anatomy). I think their plasticated specimens are quite functional. The dean explained it to me like this, in other labs you have to spend time digging around where you are wasting time not actually looking at the structure or learning anything. These specimens have been dissected by fantastic surgeons and everything is beautifully easy to spot, explain, and learn from.

 

[Bereno]

I don't have the thread on hand, however, some of the students from NYU posted that anatomy was one of their easiest classes.

NYU also tends to score 10% higher than the national average (in anatomy). I think their plasticated specimens are quite functional. The dean explained it to me like this, in other labs you have to spend time digging around where you are wasting time not actually looking at the structure or learning anything. These specimens have been dissected by fantastic surgeons and everything is beautifully easy to spot, explain, and learn from.

When I was at NYU, I thought this was the most appealing part of the school. Seriously, those cadavers were amazing!

I am taking an anatomy course next quarter just because I want to at least become a little more familiar with it. Hopefully will get my feet wet 👍

 

[SupDanLOL]

I am taking an anatomy course next quarter just because I want to at least become a little more familiar with it. Hopefully will get my feet wet 👍

If your feet get wet while studying a cadaver, then you're doing something seriously wrong. And disgusting. 😀

 

[Bereno]

If your feet get wet while studying a cadaver, then you're doing something seriously wrong. And disgusting. 😀

Oh snap! I just Lol'd

 

[MuskieMan33]

I appreciate the feedback qkchen and LaFleur! At the time I didn't think much of it, but now after hearing about it being a more difficult course I'm starting to get worried because I need to do pretty well next semester to be a competitive applicant for 2013 cycle (like 4.0 well). I'm going to sit down over the holidays with a friend who has taken the course to try to make a bullet-proof study plan to a 4.0 as well as meet with the professors the first week to see what I need to do to succeed in their courses, possibly show them my study plan to see if it's adequate or if/what I should change. (I'm going to be taking orgo2, phys2, and hematology/virology, along with immunology also, so it is going to be a tough semester).

Anyway, sorry for getting the post slightly off topic, I appreciate the insight!

 

[Logs]

I took an anatomy course w/ lab. Super awesome class, I thought. It was actually my very first science class in undergrad. My brother recommended me to take it. I think its a great decision making class. What I mean by that is, if you don't like the subject than healthcare might not be the right path for you. If you love it, your in. That how it was for me. 😀