Anatomy and Cadavers

Published

Specializes in Emergency Care.

How did you do? Mostly I hear that it is not as bad as one may think. I'm sure there is an adjustment period. Dissecting is usually the dreaded part of biology/anatomy, but often I hear otherwise.

Share your experiences if you would. Calm my nervousness....

Thanks

Steve

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER, ICU, Medsurg.

AP is awesome. I loved it. Don't get me wrong its a tough class with a lot of work, but if you keep up with it, you will do fine. I opted to have the dreaded hard professor and he really challenged us but now that I've started the first semester of nursing I am SOOOOO thankful to have had him.

AP is the foundation of everything else you will learn and is important but its fascinating. Take advantage of the opportunity to learn anything and everything you can, it will make life easier in the long run.......don't go into the next class not completely understanding the previous days lecture. If you just don't get it, find help (professor, tutor lab, here) wherever.

Its a great class and HAVE FUN LEARNING, don't be scared, just think of the leg up you will have in the nursing program when you ace the AP tests!

P.S. we didnt have cadavers in AP......well, we had cats that were already disected to look at but we didnt do any dissection. our nursing professors are talking about taking us to the nearest cadaver lab and I can't wait!!! if you have the opportunity to work with cadavers, that is awesome, take advantage of everything you can!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I took anatomy and physio as two separate classes and i loved them both! When my teacher told me that we were going to be learning our muscles on a cadaver I think my heart stopped. The day we were "introduced" to the cadaver I was so nervous... I didn't even eat breakfast. But I have to say..... all the worrying wasn't worth it. The cadaver was nothing like I thought it was going to be. They had his hands, feet, and head covered which I think was good because it made it less personal. Looking at the cadaver was probably the coolest thing I have ever seen. And I have to say that it's something I will never forget. Learning the muscles on him rather than just in a book helped me a lot and don't think I will forget it. I have to say though the only thing that I was worried about all the time was kinda well, silly. We had a male cadaver and they often had his "parts" uncovered and we had to lean over him to see some of the deep muscles on the inside of the thigh.... I had nightmare's that I would trip and my head would land right on his waist... Hahah! But other than that the class was great, the cadaver was awesome, and something I will never forget! Good Luck and don't freak out, it will be fine!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in student; help!.

We did cats. Sad but no biggie. I'm surprised to hear anyone's doing humans, frankly. I think that would have been really neat.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

When I took A&PI the first time, 10 yrs ago, we saw a cadaver. Teacher brought it in and let us see her. She was partially disected. The A&P II students did the disection. It was definitely interesting to see. They kept her head covered and would show her without covering if you were interested. Seeing the hands and feet definitely was personal and was a little unnerving at first, but I quickly got over it.

Now that I am taking A&PI again at a different college, we are going to be doing cats. Should still be interesting though.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I wish we'd used cadavers instead of cats in Anatomy. I have a harder time with cats being involuntarily sacrificed for science/learning than with people who chose to donate their bodies to science.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I loved working with the cadeaver, it was in anatomy, physio is a separate class. but it was really interesting to say the least. It was fun naming all the muscles but during the lab practical it was kind of difficult to remember all the parts but anyway some people were afraid of it, I told them this guy is dead, its the live ones you have to worry about!!:chuckle

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych..

We had a cadaver for A&P I and II. He was presented to the class already dissected and we were tested on several systems using the cadaver. It was an amazing learning experience, and for me, not gross at all. I had so much respect for the man who donated his body so that we could learn from it.

I did not attend any labs with cats. They did not volunteer their bodies, nor did they die of natural causes. In fact, if their veins and arteries were colored with red and blue latex, they probably died slowly and in a lot of discomfort.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych.

I WISH we were doing cadavers. Instead we are doing a cat. I personally think it would be MORE helpful learning human A&P by dissecting an actual human, but thats just me. We are doing a cat this semester. I think its just sad. They probably get the ones from the shelter that have been euthenized b/c no one wants them. At least the cadavers voluntarily donated their bodies. Whatever, Im a weird animal person though................

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Adult Stem Cell/Oncology.
I WISH we were doing cadavers. Instead we are doing a cat. I personally think it would be MORE helpful learning human A&P by dissecting an actual human, but thats just me. We are doing a cat this semester. I think its just sad. They probably get the ones from the shelter that have been euthenized b/c no one wants them. At least the cadavers voluntarily donated their bodies. Whatever, Im a weird animal person though................

You took the words right out of my mouth! I took Anatomy last semester, and we had to work on cats as well. It just broke my heart. I hated Anatomy lab.....just hated it. It broke my heart! Did I mention that I have a cat, my brother has a cat, and my parents have two cats? All from shelters......and it really upset me to have to work on a euthanized cat! Isn't it bad enough that they ended up in a shelter in the first place, then had to be euthanized because of shelters overcrowding, and then had to be dissected in anatomy lab???? Phew.......I feel somewhat better now! Thanks for letting me vent!

We looked at a cadaver once......sooo much more helpful! Human muscles actually look the way they do in the anatomy book and are easy to identify.....who knew? Not to mention that humans consent to donate their bodies.......

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LDRP.
I WISH we were doing cadavers. Instead we are doing a cat. I personally think it would be MORE helpful learning human A&P by dissecting an actual human, but thats just me. We are doing a cat this semester. I think its just sad. They probably get the ones from the shelter that have been euthenized b/c no one wants them. At least the cadavers voluntarily donated their bodies. Whatever, Im a weird animal person though................

they arent usually from shelters.. they have "cat farms" just for this purpose.. :crying2:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Cadavers are usually reserved for med/pa school.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion