When kinesiology junior Luke Hansen walked into the first day of his Human Anatomy and Physiology I class (BIO 231), he expected it to be like any other science class he had taken at Cal Poly. Then, the professor began reading the syllabus. Hansen would soon be hands-deep in a human cadaver, and a few quarters later, dissecting a human neck to remove the whole head.

Hansens interaction with the cadavers wasnt supposed to happen until week six. He said that is when the students get to enter the wet lab, where they get to work with human specimens. But before the week approached, Hansens professor asked during office hours if he wanted to view one of the bodies early.

The first thing he noticed was the overwhelming smell of formaldehyde, the chemical used to preserve the bodies from decay.

It smells so bad. Then you look down and then you can see this whole full specimen, a human body, Hansen said.

The face of the cadaver struck Hansen the hardest.

And I remember the very first thing I had to do was sit down because it was a lot to process, he said. I knew what I was getting into but you dont actually know until youre there.

This cadaver is one of three that are tucked away behind a large metal door which resembles a bank vault on the first floor of Science North in the Human Anatomy Lab (HAL). According to the director of the HAL, Mike Jones, two cadavers are loaned out by the Willed Body Program at University of California San Francisco.

Cal Poly is one of only a few universities where undergraduates have access to real human specimens for dissections, let alone receive fresh ones annually.

The ability to touch and work hands-on with cadavers helps students solidify and strengthen their understanding of anatomy in order to build confidence in real-life situations post-graduation, according to Jones.

I want our graduates to be somebody Im willing to recommend my grandma go see or my mom and dad, right? I want our graduates to be excellent practitioners that we trust and who can do good work in our community, Jones said.

Students work with the cadavers in several ways: through a series of human anatomy courses (BIO 231 and 232), a summer course (BIO S411), the Learn By Doing Lab and senior projects.

During the Advanced Human Gross Anatomy summer course, enrolled students dissect the cadavers and prepare specimens. This includes removing the skin and fat to make certain areas of the body accessible for the universitys anatomy and physiology classes during the year and the Learn By Doing Lab program for isolating and dissecting specific organs.

In The Learn by Doing Lab (SCM 302), undergraduate students use the cadavers to teach San Luis Obispo High School students about human anatomy.

Hansen participated in each program and is now working on his senior project with kinesiology junior Kellie Hintzoglou. Coined the Floppy Head Dissection, Hansen and Hintzoglous work involves dissecting the back of the cadavers neck. Going through the back of the neck allows them to view and study the inner area of the neck and throat.

The interest in this region came one day during the summer course when Hansen free-reigned on the back of a cadavers neck, as Hintzoglou described it. Hansen became fascinated with the nerves and posterior region inside the neck and throat, an area Hintzoglou said they dont explore much in class.

Hintzoglou and Hansen brought the idea to Jones, who helped them polish their project plan, leading to the Floppy Head procedure.

I mean this is literally a dream come true, Hintzoglou said. To really zone in and focus on one specific region, Im just learning so many different things that I would have never learned about before, so its strengthening my confidence too.

The concept of dissection and the benefits of using body donations for research was not new to Hintzoglou, as she did a presentation on cadaver use for her high school senior project. With this project, she said her journey has come full circle.

The students are taught to separate the person from the tissue, as they are only given information about the age, gender, occupation and cause of death of the cadaver. Despite this, they said there are moments when they cannot ignore the human element.

These individuals, they had lives. They had histories. They had loved ones. They had careers and at the end of their life, they made the decision to donate their body for education, Hansen said. And so being able to sit there and to see that this is this persons truly final wish, this is the last thing that they wanted to do, I think it really pulls you back.

These individuals, they had lives. They had histories. They had loved ones at the end of their life, they made the decision to donate their body for education.

One day during the summer dissection course, Hintzoglou and Hansen were hit hard by this realization while dissecting a woman who had died of liver cancer.

We removed some of the bone, we cut open the abdomen and all we saw was liver, Hansen said.

Hintzoglou said she remembers the student director saying that was likely the reason this person donated their body; they were in so much pain and wanted someone to truly see why. Hansen and Hintzoglou were doing just that.

It was just a very humbling. It was such an incredible moment to be there for the very first time and to see that, Hansen said.

For students like Hansen, the lab has even impacted their future careers. Before the lab, Hansen was sure he was going to be a chiropractor.

But the environment in the anatomy lab with Dr. Jones, it was just such a healthy environment, Hansen said. It was so open. It was so comfortable. It was just so much room to grow as a person and as a student that it was just a natural process of learning more and more.

Now, thanks to the HAL, he plans to attend medical school after graduating.

Even amidst existential realizations and ponderings of the human body, Hansen describes the cadaver lab as a space for joy too.

I will never forget cutting open a human skull listening to Baby by Justin Bieber, Hansen said.

While dissecting bodies, the students are often listening to music and chatting about everyday life.

Jones is great at fostering the students appreciation for this kind of opportunity. He encourages students to not take the fun, awe or inspiration out of it, Hintzoglou said.Kinesiology junior Emma Mason said the experience is akin to a celebration of life.

We get to collaboratively be inspired and have open conversations and explore that, Mason said. When youre in a setting like that you kind of expect it to be a little bit more heavy and dark not to take away that importance at all but it is such a celebration and its something thats so unique that you literally cannot get anywhere else.

Inspired by her experience in the Cadaver lab, Mason has started the Creative Anatomy Club, which aims to bridge the gap between science, anatomy and the arts.

After taking BIO 231 and 232 and participating in the Learn By Doing Lab, Mason wanted to stay involved with the HAL, however, she had a scheduling conflict with the summer dissection course. Mason wanted to create a way students could utilize the resources and space available to them without the looming presence of a grade.

My main idea for it is just to create a space where people can socialize and be able to just celebrate the uniqueness of humankind. I think that the arts and human health have been intersected for so long and I think there is just so much value about having open conversation about it, Mason said.

Mason shared some events shes planning with the club: a cartoon lab taught by biology professor and cartoonist Dr. Ed Himelblau, a body painting session, various skills labs in collaboration with other health clubs and participation in the campus beautification program.

Just knowing more about what you know keeps us all connected, Mason said. Were all made of the same things, the same structures, same tissues and I just think that that is a really cool way to like bring everyone together and have a sense of community a little bit.

The rest is here:
A slice of life inside the Human Anatomy Lab at Cal Poly - Mustang News