A Comparison Study of Model Based Anatomy Learning and Cadaver Based Learning

This study investigated the importance of cadaver lab for the community college undergraduate science students who intend to pursue their career as a nurse or in other allied health field. Students for Human Anatomy & Physiology classes were taken to visit a cadaver lab. Students participated in hands on laboratory in the cadaver lab to explore the body organs and see and touch them. All the students had prior hands on experience in model based anatomy labs. After the tour students were given a questionnaire to report their expectations and findings. Most of the students reported that their perception was much different about the size, shape and texture of those internal body organs. In some extent the model based learning gave them a different feeling about those body organs. In many cases students had no difficulty in identifying the organs easily, however they realized that the idea they acquired from model based learning was misleading particularly in size and texture (tissue density). They concluded that model based learning is useful however, after the model based learning having an experience in a cadaver lab makes a great difference in their learning. All of the 67 participants said that this experience was an eye opening for them and was a great help in their understanding in the anatomy of the human body. This exposure in the cadaver lab reduced their gap between their model based experience and the real structure based learning. Support or Funding Information Campus Life St. Louis Community College Wildwood