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Anatomy Examination Learned Through Advancements in Medicine and Science
How does someone learn something? They study it. This is no different for the anatomy of the human body. Lucky, with time the body has been studied and examined for advancement in medicine and science. In the textbook, Sturken and Cartwright state, “The sense that one can understand the body by cutting into it, physically or virtually, and exposing its organs to visual inspection has remained strong in medicine and science” (Struken and Cartwright 351). This is interesting because although when someone passes away it is a terrible thing, it is actually leading to future success. It allows the anatomy to be examined in hopes for advancement as well as new findings in hopes to help someone else.
Not only could real life bodies be used for examination of the anatomy of the body but so can some advancements made in technology within medicine and science. For example, nurses, doctors, etc. can learn all they need to know about the human body without ever touching one. This can include visuals such as X-rays, CT Scans, and MRIs. One of the newer advancements for studying and learning anatomy is entitled, The Anatomage Table, shown below. This table allows any aspiring health science major to learn the parts of the body and how to treat them without ever having to have human interaction. The campus here at Misericordia University even has one located in the health science building, Passan Hall.
According to official Anatomage website, the table is, “the only fully segmented real human 3D anatomy system. Users can visualize anatomy exactly as they would on a fresh cadaver…The Table allows for exploration and learning of human anatomy beyond what any cadaver could offer” (Anatomage). This quote shows how this is a huge advancement in technology within anatomy and is highly capable to advance science and medicine. It is a tool, if possible to get, that may teach you more than using an actual human body to study after someone’s passing. The advancement includes 4 gross anatomy cases. It includes 20 high resolution regional anatomy case, and more than 1000 pathological examples, including animal cases. (Anatomage)
An example of this is shown below. It is a video of exactly what the table is capable of. It is an image of a human face. The table allows users to scrap down all the skin to just see the virtual human on the screens brain. Viewers are able to move it around at any angle, cut it in half, take parts away, and learn what each exact part is. In this particular video, it shows a brain however, there is no limit to the table and any part of the body you choose is capable of the same things as well as full range to see and study whatever it is you need.
Although these technological advances for studying anatomy, like this table are on the rise, a lot of people still arguing that traditional use, specifically cadavers, beat computers for learning anatomy. Jeanette Der Bedrosian speaks that she believes her medical students, especially first year, fear the cadaver. She explains how they should have to face this fear because it is what they will need to get used to seeing. She continues saying her students came in feeling they have prepared themselves for the sight however, when they see the grey tinted face everything is lost.
Each cadaver is different and students do not know which they will face. Bedrosian states, “Some are tall, some short, some black, some white. Some have lungs that show years of breathing in harsh chemicals. One, near the entrance, still has a bright pink manicure that looks as though it could have been done hours before death. Another is missing his left leg, with a bullet wedged into his skull. The bodies have all been embalmed, and the smell of formaldehyde lingers in the air despite the state-of-the-art ventilation system installed in the lab” (Bedrosian). She claims this is what happens as a doctor, you do not know what all your patients will look like or what has happened to them, however they need to be prepared to treat them all. She continues on her believe it is what the students need to learn now so when they see patients daily in this profession they will be ready. Her purpose was not only to inform them on the anatomy of the body but to prepare them for what will come in on the job.
In the same article, other people’s opinions are brought in to discuss the controversial topic on which is more effective to study the human body, the cadaver vs technological advances. Kris Thomson’s opinion sticks out the most. He states, “"I do feel like the technology is improving more and more each year. I know our visual quality is leaps and bounds better than it was just a couple of years ago. I think more and more people are starting to recognize that and move away from just the cadaveric studies." However, he finishes his argument that, "It's hard to replace the feeling of being around an actual body, an actual person. It would be very difficult to have a virtual platform of any sort replace that feeling " (Bedrosian).
In all, the cadaver is and always will be a great way to examine the anatomy of the human body. However, in today’s world these new advancements, such as the Anatomage table, are on the rise and are becoming more and more effective to learn. It can only advance and grow from here on and people will eventually if not now, but the near future, be able to study the body and go into the medical field prepared without ever touching a real person thanks to technology advancement.
