Cadaver Dissection Program Invites Students

Doors were open for students to view the dissection of human cadavers on Monday, April 14, where Cheri Zao, Medicine M.D., Biology Instructor, welcomed students with an eager grin.

Firstly though, she gave counsel to students: not to lock their knees, as this will reduce blood flow to the head, to eat some cookies for heightened glucose reserves, and drink some lemonade so that blood pressure drops won’t be so pronounced. Both items were offered before the entrance.

“There’s always at least a couple of people who get lightheaded,” Zao said.

There were two bodies. Zao gave them an introduction beforehand. One was named “Mr. F,” who passed in his late 70’s, and the other “Mrs. G,” passing in her late 50’s.

The students dissecting the bodies are graded for their presentations, as it is a part of their coursework in Zao’s Cadaver prosection course.

“It’s a program that students who are interested in actually learning more about he human body take. A lot of my students go into the nursing program, the bulk of them do, but other students go into pharmacy, dental hygiene, medicine, physical therapy, and occupational therapy. So, a lot of different students will take the course, but a lot of them are going to go into some sort of health care field.”