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Exercises to encourage analytical skills and enrich understanding in a pre‐baccalaureate anatomy course
Author(s) -
Miller Sue Ann
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.24.1_supplement.827.10
Subject(s) - memorization , presentation (obstetrics) , human anatomy , gross anatomy , credibility , anatomy , class (philosophy) , dissection (medical) , human body , psychology , medical education , mathematics education , medicine , computer science , artificial intelligence , radiology , political science , law
General perception is that study of anatomy is just memorization of parts. Anatomists know that there is more to understanding than memorization, but the format of many courses rewards memorization to the extent that it perpetuates the myth while perhaps not encouraging important and fundamental skills. Exercises that require thoughtful analysis of information and reward understanding can help. Teaching dissection as a means to learning and understanding is basic. Connecting dissection to “butcher shop anatomy” or “popular anatomical terms in sports, history, or literature” connects understanding anatomy to common uses and gives students additional reasons to know about the parts. Cuts of meat from a grocery store encourage interpretation of sectional anatomy. Oral presentation helps students learn to “speak anatomy” with confidence and credibility. Short reports about eponymous anatomy provide history of anatomical enquiry. Readings that precede a course or build on experience late in a course and that are tied to class discussion can help establish appreciation for how anatomists think ( First Cut. A Season in the Human Anatomy Lab , A.H. Carter) and consideration of related ethical issues ( Stiff. The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers, M. Roach). I will present these and other enrichment exercises that students find useful in an anatomy course at a liberal arts college.