Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Gross Cadaver Anatomy

We are about 2/3rds of the way through our 6 week intensive cadaver anatomy course. It is 5 credits and jammed packed with so much information. We were recently joined by the physical therapy students after our first test. It is harder with them because they are not as inviting, and they definitely are holding true to the pt-ot rivalry, even early on (I won't rant about them any longer).

Our first unit covered the thorax, the neck, the face, the head, the cranium, the abdomen, the abdominal contents and the posterior wall. I thought that was a lot of information but it is no where near compared to the amount we have to study right now. My suggestion is the go to the lab when you can, in reasonable increments. Don't spend hour upon hours in there because you will definitely go crazy. A little bit a day is the easiest way to do it without being really overwhelmed.

The unit we are on and about to take a test on this next Monday is the back and the upper extremity. This unit is way more intensive and many of us are at our braking points. There are so many origins, insertions, innervations, and functions to memorize it is nearly impossible in the short time that we have. This unit has really been a struggle and most classes in the past have done the worst grade wise on it. I just want it to be over with so we can move on to the lower extremity, which will be the last and final area we touch.