Anatomy lab

I really really like anatomy lab. I started out not really sure how much I would like it because 1) I had little previous anatomy dissection experience (in middle school we dissected a frog and a pig I think...my teacher did a cat in class but that's about it). 2) I wasn't sure how I would be react to the prolonged formaldehyde smell and how I would react to the cadaver.

However, as the year went on, I enjoyed it more and more. None of my fears/worries were real issues really. It turns out not that many people had previous dissection experience so really, nobody knew what they were doing except for the elite few. Plus, the playing field evens out because there are dissection videos online and tons of resources you can use, etc. As for the smell, well, you get used to it =P. Some people wear masks and such to not get sick and then they're fine.

I will miss it next year (because we're done with all gross anatomy at the end of this year). There is something inherently rewarding about being able to successfully dissect out a specific artery, vein, or nerve (especially when the professors confirm your findings!). Believe me, those are some hard structures to find when you are dealing with real life in 3D instead of an anatomy atlas with 2D colorful pictures. I have to say though that the anatomy artists do an awesome job with their work. The atlas is pretty close to the real thing...you just have to look for it and REALLY know where everything is supposed to be =P. And it's rewarding to be able to find it after some hard work getting rid of all the "noise". It's like when you're listening to an orchestra and you can pick out the first chair violin out of ALL the other instruments that are playing. Or it's like being able to spot a camouflaged chameleon in its natural habitat. We're dissecting the head and neck this block (which is super hard let me tell you...especially on our cadaver). We had an extra hour today too because the lecturer was speaking like he was on fast forward. So we spent the whole 3 hours in lab and at the end of it, though my group was giving up (cause it can be frustrating), I was definitely still making progress and didn't want to leave! I mean, I was totally starting to dissect out the roots of the brachial plexus in the neck and the branches of the subclavian artery And even some professors said that they couldn't find some of those structures so dude, I was on a roll! Lol, I kinda take it as a personal challenge when it's hard to find something in our cadaver (which has been almost this whole time)...cause usually, with patience and hard work, I can find it. Cause it's like a big puzzle and I had a lead that I needed to follow up on =P! And it is very rewarding when I "solve" it =D.

I really wish I had more direction and purpose in college. I think I would have learned a lot better and a lot more that way. Cause I really lose my motivation to learn when I'm given a bunch of material on a wide range of subjects and asked to learn them. I don't know how they possibly go together so for what purpose am I learning these things? See, in med school, my purpose is clear. All the things I am learning are things I need to know in order to be a doctor. In a split second, I have motivation and I am able to apply things left and right. Subjects like Physiology, Histology, Biochemistry, Genetics and Anatomy are all overlapping and connecting to each other. I actually really like biochemistry and genetics right now and I hated it in undergrad. Why? Because without a purpose, it was THE most BORING subject on earth. I couldn't keep myself from falling asleep in a lot of my science classes at Case and yet here, I haven't fallen asleep yet (nor do I have to keep myself from trying!)! Weird huh? I guess this is what happens when you're doing what you were born to do...Call me Jonah but I guess I came around finally =P