Volume 8 | Issue 3 Article 8

1946 Anatomy By Dissection Stanley King

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Recommended Citation King, Stanley (1946) "Anatomy By Dissection," Iowa State University Veterinarian: Vol. 8 : Iss. 3 , Article 8. Available at: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/iowastate_veterinarian/vol8/iss3/8

This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Journals at Iowa State University Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Iowa State University Veterinarian by an authorized editor of Iowa State University Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Anatomy By Dissection

The dog as the basic animal

Stanley King, '49*

OT too many years ago veterinary into the laboratory procedure. Demon­ N students studied anatomy looking strations, movies, x-rays, and charts are forward to the care of large animals, and important supplements. A complete and in particular the horse, as the main source not too detailed dissection guide will di­ of future income. Modern embalming rect the student to dissection technique, techniques were not applied to animals, observation of structure, and textbook and, of necessity, their laboratory work reference material. Drawings of dissec­ was done in cold dissecting rooms during tions, which need not be artistic, but the winter months. which show structural relationship can Since then, in addition to the dissec­ be profitably made. tion of embalmed cadavers, the field of By his dissection the student will ac­ anatomy has been broadened to include tually see the form and structure of the histology, embryology, cytology, hema­ animal and should associate morphology tology, neurology, and endocrinology. with the physiological aspects. He should These phases of anatomy have given op­ be encouraged to ask himself questions portunities for new advancements through like these: What is the structure? Why research. is it so named? What is its shape and how Fewer Lectures does its structure justify its function? The tendency has been to reduce the He should attempt to apply the knowledge hours devoted to the study of gross an­ gained from the cadaver to the living ani­ atomy to allow more time for other sub­ mal. This can be accomplished by having jects as well as for other phases of live animals available on which deeper anatomy. It is desirable then to eliminate structures can be located by external vis­ unnecessary time-consuming material. ible landmarks. The courses in gross anatomy at Iowa State College have thus been arranged Practical Aspects with the following views in mind. It is felt that material given in scheduled class­ Emphasis should be placed on practi­ room lectures often does not correspond cal considerations. Things of major im­ with the laboratory work. Much of this portance should be learned well. Detail lecture material can be obtained from is not long remembered. The learning of text books or can better be learned from exact origins and insertions of muscles dissections. Therefore, the student should and the minute terminations of blood ves­ devote most of his time to dissection. How­ sels and nerves makes gross anatomy a ever, laboratory work should be supple­ subject difficult to learn and easily for­ mented. Lectures, short or long, as the gotten. Terminology should be associated need dictates, may be given as they fit with meaning and word analysis. Since form and structure are the most * Author acknowledges valuable assistance of Dr. L. E. St. Clair. fundamental aspects in medical educa-

166 The Veterinary Student tion, it is felt that anatomy should be as the division line, and at mid-term the studied during the first year. All phases two groups rotate positions on a new of anatomy should be thoroughly coordi­ horse. Particular emphasis is placed on nated as one will help to explain the practical considerations such as the limbs. other. A sound foundation must be laid Since the economic value of the horse (ex­ upon which to apply subsequent courses cept the light horse) is declining and since in the curriculum. For this reason asso­ all animals are fundamentally alike, fur­ ciated anatomical subjects should be un­ ther reductions in time spent on the horse der the jurisdiction of a single department. can be anticipated. At Iowa State College the dog is used as the basic dissection animal. All of the Other Animals students are dissecting the same portions All of the other economically important of the body at the same time, and all com­ domestic animals are dissected during the plete the dissection by the end of the first third quarter with emphasis being placed quarter. This aids in coordinating the on their phylogenetic association. Their teaching of gross anatomy with that of embryological similarities and differences histology and embryology. are pointed out. The fundamental simi­ larity of all animals is a point that is Horse stressed. When the horse was used as the basic During each dissection all of the body animal, it was much later before all had systems are studied simultaneously and finished studying the entire horse since in relation to each other. The bones are it was customarily done in three sections. studied with the soft structures. Topo­ It is much easier for students with little graphical and regional anatomy are in­ previous knowledge of gross anatomy to cluded. Thus, the student has on the com­ study the dog than a large animal. Larger pletion of his first year, an overall picture of body structure. He realizes the funda­ mental principles of body makeup and the significance of each part with its relation­ ship to the other parts. He has a good basic knowledge of body structure and not merely a conglomeration of unassoci­ ated detail. It is suggested that a course in applied anatomy taught some time during the clinical years would be very beneficial. Special emphas is could be placed on special structures and surgical fields of

Photo by F. K. Ramsey various animals. View of dissection in the Anatomy Laboratory animals, too, are harder to handle and to Paeans of praise for caudal (epidural) keep in condition for good disection. In anesthesia are now rising from the medi­ the dog structures can be kept intact long cal profession. The doctors have just after they are first observed. Improved discovered it! They have not yet learn­ methods of embalming with fluids other ed that the veterinary profession has em­ than formalin keep canine cadavers in ployed caudal anesthesia routinely for good condition for the entire quarter. 18 years . . So far, the medical profession The horse is dissected during the sec­ knows of its value only in parturition but, ond quarter. Students by then have a given time, its members will learn, as good basic foundation and can dissect rap­ veterinarians have long known, that it is idly and efficiently. Two groups work on useful in a wide variety of surgical op­ each animal. The diaphragm is assigned erations.

Winter, 1946 167