Jaymes Buttrey

Comm. 1010
March 10, 2015

Colleges and universities have been using human cadavers as a learning instrument to
help teach future nurses and doctors for many years now. A few years ago, Cabrillo College
almost saw a change in curriculum in regards to their anatomy classes. They wanted to move
towards more of a virtual, 3-D type model of the human body. Digital tools seem to be helpful,
but having an actual cadaver can show so much more. The body contains thousands of complex
systems. Having an actual body to examine, dissect, and observe gives an in-depth understanding
of how the body works. Being able to peel back all of the layers of a body, and see them gives
students a bigger picture. You cant see disease first hand and how it has affected the body
through a module.
According to the Mayo Clinic, anatomy is the study of the structure and function of the
human body. At the Mayo Clinic, the study of anatomy is one of the most important courses. It is
taught very early on in the education of healthcare professionals for a reason. There are many
health-related studies being conducted because of the knowledge gained through cadavers. Knee,
ankle, and joint surgeries, plastic surgery, cancer, scoliosis, Alzheimers, and diabetes are a few
of the medical studies that human cadavers are helping in right now.
After speaking to one of the assistants in the science department, I learned a little bit
about our course here at our own community college, SLCC. SLCC has 4 cadavers. Two are
male and two are female. One female and one male reside at the Redwood Road Campus. The
other two are at the Jordan Campus. The male cadaver at the Redwood Road Campus is 8 years

old. The school will be replacing him soon. The female is newer. She was purchased spring of
2014. Both have visible medical conditions. Upon examination, the students are able to see these
conditions and learn about them.
There are two parts to the course, lecture and lab. Both are held in the same classroom.
The cadaver is kept here at all times. It is placed in a square container, submerged in a preserver.
When lab is taking place, the cadaver is out on top of the container for the class to see. During
testing, students look at the cadaver and name body parts based on the placement of numbered
pins. If a student performs well in the class and lab, they are offered a chance to help with the
actual dissecting of the cadaver. This happens outside the classroom and prepares the cadaver for
future classes and students.