Disecting a cat-why?

Thendar · Oct 29, 2002

When I took A&P we did a cat also. The instructor tolds us that a cat has most of the organs located in the same areas as a human.

As to why there is a 4:1 ???? Seems like it would be kind of hard to learn.

If you want to have the best learning experience, be assertive and try to be the person doing the disecting. Or suggest that each of you take turns.

memphispanda, RN · Oct 29, 2002

We didn't even do a cat...We had the option to disect a fetal pig during A&P 2, but only a few of us stayed to do that...everyone else wanted out. It is kind of cool to see what the major organs look like, and mammal to mammal they are quite similar. I don't think I could have done a cat though...

Sleepyeyes · Oct 29, 2002

We asked our instructor, "Why a cat?"

She replied, "Because a human's too expensive."

Shut us up about the cat.... :lol2:

OBNURSEHEATHER · Oct 29, 2002

Originally posted by Sleepyeyes
We asked our instructor, "Why a cat?"

She replied, "Because a human's too expensive."

Shut us up about the cat....

LMAO!

Seriously, 4:1 is a crappy kitty experience! Even in high school we had a 2:1! As Thendar suggested, volunteer to be the one doing the disecting. My experience has been that everyone would be more than happy to let you do it, and you'll get more up close and personal.

I loved disecting that cat! I hate cats!

Heather

farmmom · Oct 29, 2002

I would have a fit with 4:1 but living on a farm with ten barn cats now I would also hate disecting a cat.But I guess if it has to be done then have at it

the camera thing is a good idea I will keep that in mind if I have to deal with the same ratio:uhoh21:

2amigos · Oct 29, 2002

:) I'm glad to know I'm not the only one that thinks 4:1 isn't right. I love my cats, but I need to learn this stuff too. I figure I just won't think of them as cats......just like when I have to do stuff to people that I know will hurt, can't think of that part. Anyway, thanks for the response. Ya'll the best!

Cheryl Moore

prmenrs, RN · Oct 29, 2002

I did a cat once. They bear NO RESEMBLANCE to any cat I've EVER known or loved. They have pickled in Formalin, and are somewhat boardlike in look and feel. They are also HUGE!!

They also "keep" for the amount of time you'll need to work on it for various body systems.

A much better experience, in my opinion, were the freshly euthanized mice/rats I dissected another time. There was very much less odor (they used chloroform to kill them), and the organs were much easier to see, esp in relationship to one another. Because they had just died, they were still lifelike in appearance and feel.

Given my druthers, the mouse was better.

renerian, BSN, RN · Oct 29, 2002

Wow we did 2/1 and that was hard enough...........then we tested separatly on all the muscles. Had to point out 10 muscles you pulled from a hat....

renerian

ntigrad · Oct 29, 2002

In high school biology we dissected rats crawdads, worms, frogs, mussels and fetal pigs. Here I am in LPN school and we don't do any of that. I know LPN knowledge base isn't as deep as RN, but you would think we still could benefit from dissecting soemthing. My RN sister in law had a sheeps brain to take home with her to work on, and a cows eye. Do any of you have that yet? I personally was dissappointed that we wouldn't be doing any of that. And YES 4:1 is too many to do any learning on IMHO. :)

Jill

Mkue · Oct 29, 2002

I think they are trying to compare the CATS muscles to our muscles.. ick... the cats smelled.

I actually did 2 CATS.. one in A&P I and the other in A&P II.. because I transferred for A&P II and they didn't have time to do the CAT in A&P I.. lucky for me..lol.

The 2nd CAT was the best experience and I think we were 3:1, one cat was pregnant, we dissected the tiny sacs.

I think there is a method to the madness:cool:

dstudent · Oct 30, 2002

I have not yet had the opportunity to do that but am looking forward to it.