the cadaver lab & teaching

[Phosphate]

I was recently having a discussion with a mate of mine about something, and we got on the the topic of anatomy and the way it is taught down here in Tasmania, Australia.

He was saying that for the reason of "respect" and for the students sake, the hands, feet and face of cadavers are wrapped up in cloth away from the students eyes until those parts are to be studied as isolated entities!

Now I am not originally from Tasmania, I am from the University of Queensland in Brisbane. When I studied anatomy as part of my B Science, no part of the body was "protected" or hidden away from the students view. We all coped and there wasn't a single issue with the use of cadveric material to study anatomy. Of course we showed the utmost respect for the specimens and horseplay was really frowned upon by our collegues and tutors(not that we ever did muck around).

The atmosphere in the lab was not sad or sobre, but neutral, a place to learn about the structure of the human body.

Its my opinion that the practice of covering up the "personal parts" of the body, has negative effects on the students. I believe that it teaches them to regard the as a spiritual place filled the dead "people", friends, family etc. This has a perpetuating effect that quite frankly un-helpful. I believe that emotions should be left for outside of the anatomy lab, just as they are left out when results are being collected from chemistry experiment or when a judge hands down a judgement.

What has been your experiences with anatomy teaching and what are your arguments for the way it should be taught.

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[pillowhead]

I was recently having a discussion with a mate of mine about something, and we got on the the topic of anatomy and the way it is taught down here in Tasmania, Australia.

He was saying that for the reason of "respect" and for the students sake, the hands, feet and face of cadavers are wrapped up in cloth away from the students eyes until those parts are to be studied as isolated entities!

Now I am not originally from Tasmania, I am from the University of Queensland in Brisbane. When I studied anatomy as part of my B Science, no part of the body was "protected" or hidden away from the students view. We all coped and there wasn't a single issue with the use of cadveric material to study anatomy. Of course we showed the utmost respect for the specimens and horseplay was really frowned upon by our collegues and tutors(not that we ever did muck around).

The atmosphere in the lab was not sad or sobre, but neutral, a place to learn about the structure of the human body.

Its my opinion that the practice of covering up the "personal parts" of the body, has negative effects on the students. I believe that it teaches them to regard the as a spiritual place filled the dead "people", friends, family etc. This has a perpetuating effect that quite frankly un-helpful. I believe that emotions should be left for outside of the anatomy lab, just as they are left out when results are being collected from chemistry experiment or when a judge hands down a judgement.

What has been your experiences with anatomy teaching and what are your arguments for the way it should be taught.

The hands and feet were not covered on our cadavers but the faces were until it came time to do the head and face dissection. When we finished the head and neck block, we tried to keep the head (what was left of it) covered with a wet cloth if possible. The genitals were also covered similarly.

I don't think this perpetuates a morbid or overly-emotional dissection experience. I think it helps students maintain a healthy respect for the person who graciously donated their body. If I were to donate my body, I wouldn't want my gaunt face with its shaved head and my genitals open for everyone to observe if it wasn't necessary. I mean, if a cloth slides off, so be it, but I think it's good to keep these parts covered if you can. To me one of the hardest things to transition to in the hospital is keeping patients adequately covered while examining them thoroughly so perhaps it's good practice. I mean, obviously you have to disrobe a patient to do a good exam, but on our practical exams, we get points taken off if we don't keep the patient respectfully covered.

Anyway, I don't think anatomy lab should be as stoic as a chemistry lab. Chemicals don't have feelings. The person who donated their body did have emotions, and their families still do. We were encouraged to talk openly about how we feel in lab (not necessarily in the middle of dissecting) and I don't think that makes things unnecessarily emotional at all. The first time you cut and see a dead body, there is a gut emotional reaction. I think it's better to just get it out in the open and move on than to keep it suppressed or to keep worrying about something. I think it facilitates more neutrality in the long run which I agree is important to aim for.

 

[MeowMix]

I started cadaver dissection a few weeks after watching my father die.

In the lab, I was immensely grateful that the head, hands and feet were wrapped and that we started on the back. It takes some of us longer to come to terms with cutting up what was once a living person, just like my dad. It doesn't mean that we are avoiding reality or our emotions. In fact, having the cadaver wrapped meant that I could deal with my emotions, instead of being simply overwhelmed right from day 1 and having to shut down emotionally.

 

[THP]

At my school nothing was covered the entire time we were in class.

 

[Phosphate]

Thanks for your contribution.

 

[MGoBlueDO]

At our school we just uncovered the area of the dissection for the section...we do a system's based curriculum. Then we have a non-denominational prayer service with the relatives of the donated cadaver bodies...it sort of offers a way to say thank you to the people who let us learn anatomy on them...it made the class so much easier than reading netters.

 

[hale-bopp]

My anatomy professor told me that they keep the head, hands, feet and genitals covered with a damp cloth to keep them from drying out before you get to that part of the body.

 

[sparky5]

My anatomy professor told me that they keep the head, hands, feet and genitals covered with a damp cloth to keep them from drying out before you get to that part of the body.

I was told for the same reasons, we only covered hands, feet and head with a special cloth. The rest of the body was covered by a towel and plastic sheet, and we were instructed only to uncover what we needed for that days dissection.

 

[Skialta]

The real reason to cover them is to keep them from drying out.