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This week, I disarticulated a cadaver's head from its body Spriteling Send a noteboard - 14/04/2017 02:54:52 PM

We didn't completely remove her head; the viscera of her neck (fascia, larynx, esophagus, etc) were still intact. In essence, we created a Nearly Headless Nick (or Nicolette, if you will, since our cadaver is a female).

It was pretty disturbing. You have to cut out large chunks of the skull, chisel through the articulations of the first two cervical vertebrae, and use a scalpel to cut through a lot of muscle and fascia. And I couldn't help but thinking, "When this woman donated her body, did she know how many gruesome things we'd be doing to it?"

We've removed an entire leg. We've cracked her rib cage, pulled out all her internal organs and cut them open. We've hemisected her pelvis. We'll be hemisecting her jaw and face next. And yet, without being able to do all those things, we'd lack much of the knowledge that becomes important as a physician. Virtual dissections only do so much. Knowledge of anatomy is essential in basically all fields of medicine.

After every anatomy lab, I come away with even more gratitude to the 84 year old woman who was selfless enough to make the decision to donate her body to medical students.

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This week, I disarticulated a cadaver's head from its body - 14/04/2017 02:54:52 PM 850 Views
Well this certainly provided a series of lovely images to go with my second cup of coffee... - 14/04/2017 03:00:52 PM 574 Views
Oh, I have so many more - 14/04/2017 03:04:38 PM 578 Views
I don't think I'd spit out a drink, unless it was like tomato juice or something. - 14/04/2017 03:09:44 PM 528 Views
Well, that one is harder with stories - 14/04/2017 03:20:49 PM 647 Views
- 14/04/2017 03:24:11 PM 557 Views
Are you sure? - 14/04/2017 03:25:15 PM 582 Views
Do it! I want to see the first-ever RAFO appearance of... - 14/04/2017 03:52:44 PM 623 Views
that was funny - 14/04/2017 03:57:57 PM 564 Views
Fo shizzle. *NM* - 14/04/2017 03:59:58 PM 343 Views
These are a couple of anatomy videos that turned my stomach - 14/04/2017 08:19:46 PM 813 Views
*NM* - 14/04/2017 08:24:20 PM 354 Views
Heh - 14/04/2017 04:12:46 PM 538 Views
Is your "disarticulating" a head like United's "re-accommodating" Dr. Dao? - 14/04/2017 03:58:08 PM 681 Views
How about organ loaning? - 14/04/2017 04:02:39 PM 617 Views
- 14/04/2017 04:03:57 PM 524 Views
I live for your disapproval face! *NM* - 14/04/2017 04:06:29 PM 344 Views
I think you have gotten more of them than Greg - 14/04/2017 04:10:04 PM 560 Views
No need to track. - 14/04/2017 04:12:50 PM 551 Views
- 14/04/2017 04:16:25 PM 589 Views
Yeah, it did! *NM* - 14/04/2017 04:29:31 PM 346 Views
Joe loves it when he gets twice as much. - 14/04/2017 08:26:17 PM 617 Views
*NM* - 14/04/2017 09:09:38 PM 334 Views
!!! *NM* - 18/04/2017 01:46:01 AM 451 Views
That's because I am more refined and genteel. - 14/04/2017 08:25:28 PM 552 Views
No. - 14/04/2017 04:07:26 PM 607 Views
Bah! - 14/04/2017 04:10:26 PM 581 Views
One would assume - 14/04/2017 04:15:02 PM 530 Views
Speak for yourself, old man. - 14/04/2017 04:20:55 PM 490 Views
Bah - 14/04/2017 04:22:35 PM 545 Views
Well, I can't rate your past performance. - 14/04/2017 04:28:35 PM 619 Views
LOL - 14/04/2017 04:31:48 PM 563 Views
Ooooh, a challenge! - 14/04/2017 04:32:40 PM 588 Views
this poor thread has been thoroughly hijacked - 14/04/2017 04:57:59 PM 529 Views
*NM* - 14/04/2017 04:59:05 PM 349 Views
Well....I'd like to think we're a little nicer. - 14/04/2017 05:36:11 PM 586 Views
That's pretty metal. - 14/04/2017 04:04:42 PM 548 Views
We have 8 people to a cadaver - 14/04/2017 05:34:44 PM 583 Views
Gross anatomy is fascinating, but I'm glad I don't have to do it personally. - 14/04/2017 05:45:47 PM 547 Views
It's my least favourite part of medical school. - 14/04/2017 05:48:23 PM 605 Views
Keep at it! We will watch your career with great interest. - 15/04/2017 05:22:09 AM 485 Views
I love Jonathan Haidt on this subject - 14/04/2017 06:18:28 PM 615 Views
Oh, I don't think the body is sacred - 14/04/2017 06:38:47 PM 767 Views
Oh I understand - 15/04/2017 12:14:44 AM 541 Views

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