BY EMMA PLANK
Human Anatomy may be one of the most complex concepts to truly understand and appreciate. Our bodies are so perfectly organized, and everything has its place and purpose. That said, understanding anatomy and physiology can be challenging for students that learn better in a hands-on environment.
Not having anything to physically utilize and practice on can be a detriment to their learning. However, Fort Hays State University offers a cadaver lab for in-person, hands-on learning to help students gain a better understanding of the human body.
Dr. David Tarailo, an instructor of biological sciences at FHSU, oversees the cadaver lab.
“The only real way to understand human anatomy is to see it, but it also teaches the students humility,” Tarailo said.
Tarailo said his favorite part of teaching in the lab is finding oddities in the bodies, and for FHSU junior and cadaver lab student Denise Folsom, her favorite part of taking the class is finding the differences between male and female cadavers.
“Since we have both a male and female cadaver, it’s interesting to compare things,” she said. “For example, we were dissecting the thorax one day and were able to compare the heart sizes, and the male’s (heart) was significantly larger which I thought was really cool to see.”
Working in a cadaver lab can be a major adjustment for students, and for Folsom, getting used to working in the lab and with the cadavers took some time. However, she has gotten used to the experience as time has gone on.
“The first day, I was extremely nervous and actually was a bit queasy. It felt odd more than anything because the cadavers were people with their own, unique lives,” Folsom said. “Now, I have a greater appreciation for them, as they made a sacrifice (in donating their bodies to science) for our education, which I’m extremely thankful for.”
This goes back to when Tarailo said he wanted to teach humility. Donating your body to science and education is a huge sacrifice that he wants his students to understand and to be grateful for the chance to learn this way. At the end of these classes, Tarailo hopes the students will take away not only “a knowledge of anatomy, but also an appreciation for the complexity of the human body.”, and it seems that he is doing just that.