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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 749 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 482 Views
Oh, I have so many more - 14/04/2017 03:04:38 PM 497 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 440 Views
Well, that one is harder with stories - 14/04/2017 03:20:49 PM 549 Views
- 14/04/2017 03:24:11 PM 465 Views
Are you sure? - 14/04/2017 03:25:15 PM 504 Views
Do it! I want to see the first-ever RAFO appearance of... - 14/04/2017 03:52:44 PM 541 Views
that was funny - 14/04/2017 03:57:57 PM 480 Views
Fo shizzle. *NM* - 14/04/2017 03:59:58 PM 306 Views
These are a couple of anatomy videos that turned my stomach - 14/04/2017 08:19:46 PM 716 Views
*NM* - 14/04/2017 08:24:20 PM 308 Views
Heh - 14/04/2017 04:12:46 PM 453 Views
Is your "disarticulating" a head like United's "re-accommodating" Dr. Dao? - 14/04/2017 03:58:08 PM 561 Views
How about organ loaning? - 14/04/2017 04:02:39 PM 532 Views
- 14/04/2017 04:03:57 PM 441 Views
I live for your disapproval face! *NM* - 14/04/2017 04:06:29 PM 292 Views
I think you have gotten more of them than Greg - 14/04/2017 04:10:04 PM 482 Views
No need to track. - 14/04/2017 04:12:50 PM 465 Views
- 14/04/2017 04:16:25 PM 504 Views
Yeah, it did! *NM* - 14/04/2017 04:29:31 PM 304 Views
Joe loves it when he gets twice as much. - 14/04/2017 08:26:17 PM 531 Views
*NM* - 14/04/2017 09:09:38 PM 294 Views
!!! *NM* - 18/04/2017 01:46:01 AM 400 Views
That's because I am more refined and genteel. - 14/04/2017 08:25:28 PM 465 Views
No. - 14/04/2017 04:07:26 PM 504 Views
Bah! - 14/04/2017 04:10:26 PM 506 Views
One would assume - 14/04/2017 04:15:02 PM 449 Views
Speak for yourself, old man. - 14/04/2017 04:20:55 PM 417 Views
Bah - 14/04/2017 04:22:35 PM 457 Views
Well, I can't rate your past performance. - 14/04/2017 04:28:35 PM 528 Views
LOL - 14/04/2017 04:31:48 PM 477 Views
Ooooh, a challenge! - 14/04/2017 04:32:40 PM 500 Views
this poor thread has been thoroughly hijacked - 14/04/2017 04:57:59 PM 447 Views
*NM* - 14/04/2017 04:59:05 PM 296 Views
Well....I'd like to think we're a little nicer. - 14/04/2017 05:36:11 PM 490 Views
That's pretty metal. - 14/04/2017 04:04:42 PM 460 Views
We have 8 people to a cadaver - 14/04/2017 05:34:44 PM 501 Views
Gross anatomy is fascinating, but I'm glad I don't have to do it personally. - 14/04/2017 05:45:47 PM 463 Views
It's my least favourite part of medical school. - 14/04/2017 05:48:23 PM 516 Views
Keep at it! We will watch your career with great interest. - 15/04/2017 05:22:09 AM 402 Views
I love Jonathan Haidt on this subject - 14/04/2017 06:18:28 PM 521 Views
Oh, I don't think the body is sacred - 14/04/2017 06:38:47 PM 651 Views
Oh I understand - 15/04/2017 12:14:44 AM 454 Views

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