Today, we explored the incredibly unique structure of the lungs. Most of the tissues we’ve dealt with so far have been rather dense and/or fibrous, but the lungs presented us with far more spongy and pliable dissection. Since the rib cage had already been removed for the heart dissection, the lungs…
Tuesday morning, my anatomy tankmates and I continued our journey through the human body. The next stop brought us to the heart – arguably the most important muscle in the entire body (aside from trapezius) ;-).
Before applying to medical school, I heard “rumors” that Baylor College of Medicine students use prosections rather than actually dissecting cadavers on their own. Fortunately, I was right to be skeptical of such a claim. Just recently, a friend of mine who is currently applying heard this same rumor from…
After finishing the upper extremity, I was starting to feel pretty good! With all the muscles, bones, nerves, arteries, etc. that we’ve studied… how much more could really be left? As a rule of thumb – never doubt the complexity of the human body. :-P
The next time you move your hand, keep in mind that there are more muscles and ligaments and tendons and vessels involved than… well… I know at the moment. ;-) It’s amazing! For a structure as thin as the hand, there are so many tissues packed into it. We often…
Today in gross anatomy, my group dissected out the extensor and flexor compartments of the forearm. We found muscles like the flexor carpi ulnaris, extensor carpi radialis brevis, and abductor pollicis longus. A part of me wishes I knew Latin before medical school. ;-)
Yesterday, my anatomy group continued our cadaver dissection by locating the brachial plexus, a particular bundle of nerves situated near the axilla (armpit) which arises from C5-T1 and innervates the entire upper limb.
My gross anatomy group got together yesterday afternoon to dissect the pectoralis major and pectoralis minor muscles of the chest, and did we have one incredible realization! Our cadaver was initially presented to us face-down (dorsal side facing up) so we could dissect the back/shoulder; however, to access the chest,…
What comes to mind when you think of your “best teacher?” Perhaps the one who had easy tests? Maybe the one who would go out of their way to know each student on an individual basis? Well in gross anatomy, the cadaver is undoubtedly a medical student’s best teacher.