This manual was developed to facilitate learning of human anatomy. A central goal of the manual is to allow greater efficiency in the use of students' time in the laboratory, as well as in preparation and review. The method of dissection described in this manual represents a regional approach. Although the anatomy is presented regionally, it is incumbent upon the student to also view the human body from a systemic perspective.
The laboratory manual is divided into seven regional units. Within each unit, chapters focus on specific subregions. Each chapter is a laboratory assignment which is divided into four basic sections: (1) overview, (2) osteology, (3) step-by-step dissection instructions and, (4) summary terms.
In the overview section, the objectives of the dissection are identified. In the osteology section, major bony landmarks are reviewed. In the laboratory section, four innovative features are used:
A sequence of dissection steps defines which structures are to be identified and distinctly directs students how and where to cut and reflect given structures.
Numbers in the text refer to videodisc dissection images that demonstrate the anatomical structures. These images can be accessed using a videodisc player and a TV monitor with or without a computer interface. References are made to figures in three current editions of commonly used atlases.
(Grant's Atlas of Anatomy, 9th edition; Netter's Atlas of Human Anatomy, 1st and 2nd editions; and Rohen and Yokochi's Color Atlas of Anatomy, 3rd edition) which are correlated with steps of the dissection. Steps of dissections are organized as a check list which provides the student with a distinct and succinct guide to accomplish and review a given dissection. In summary, this section of the manual is designed to provide a definite plan of study and a means of making the best use of the time allotted for dissection.
Posted by SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Office of Educational Computing & Technology.
