Anatomy and Physiology

[claritasd]

For those of you who have already done A and P, was dissection required? I'm vegan, and I'm really uncomfortable dissecting animals - humans who have donated their bodies to science, ok, but animals didn't have a choice. I mean, I'll do it if I have to (it's a sacrifice for a larger goal, I guess), but I'm just wondering so I have a heads-up.

And no, for anyone about to say vegans care about animals more than people, that's not the case. While I'm aware of the ways animal testing and whatnot has benefitted us, I feel like it's unfair to use them for our own purposes when they can't make the choice. But I'm ok with the idea of dissecting a person who has donated their body for the purpose, haha. They made an informed decision.

Anyway, please let me know so I can start mentally preparing!

[Dc0927]

I go to a city college and it is required... We cut open a rat and a sheep brain.. I was horrified but I got thru it

[claritasd]

OK, thanks everybody. So basically it could be required, or not, or recommended, or not, or... haha. Thanks for the info!

[dt70]

I did A&P I online and they mailed each student a cows eye and a sheep brain. The same in A&P II online...sheep heart and kidney.

Correctly addressing the household recipient would be wise in that situation.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

If it makes you feel any better, the cats you dissect are those that shelters were unable to find homes for and were thus euthanized, but so as not to be a total waste, their bodies are donated for educational purposes. The same with cow eyes, brains and pig hearts and fetuses...these are parts left over after the animal is slaughtered for public consumptions. Atleast as much of the animals is used as possible.

I recall when I dissected a cat we were told that the cats were strays that were usually found dead. My cat had a significant hemorrhage in its intestines and we thought it was probably hit by a car or something. There was also remnants of a bird in its stomach so I'm pretty sure it was out in the wild shortly before it died.

[readyforachangenow]

We dissected a Sheep's brain, cow's eye, heart (I can not remember the animal it came from) and fetal pig. We were in groups so only 1-2 members actually did the dissecting to keep cost down for the school.