Investigations in Anatomy with Cadavers

Catalog description

This course provides students with an introduction to the science of anatomy and uses human cadavers for some activities. No previous experience in anatomy is required. Classroom discussions include the fundamentals of embalming and the details of body donation as it currently exists in the state of Pennsylvania. A personal perspective on the impact of working with donated human bodies is also included. In the lab students engage in a series of investigatory activities that help to clarify the nature of anatomic inquiry. These activities begin with free-form and directed dissections/explorations of preserved and fresh non-human specimens. Selected explorations and assessments of dissected human donor bodies follow. Assigned activities allow students to sharpen their powers of observation, familiarize themselves with the basic mammalian body plan, and recognize the inter-relatedness between structure and function as a fundamental tenet in biological science.