At KYCOM, anatomy finishes after the first semester of your first-year… well kind of. Although I finished dissecting a full cadaver in the first semester, the second semester consists of neuroscience. Thus, I am back in the lab dissecting and learning parts of the brain. Here is detailing how anatomy lab is different from neuroscience lab and how you can succeed:
- Neuroscience lab is way less time consuming just by the mere information. Thus, lab time for me consisted of a maximum of three hours. While as lab time for anatomy consisted of at least 15 hours. The majority of neuroscience lab were learning different cuts on the brain. Thus, the structures are the same, but the brain is oriented in a different manner (transected, bisected).
- Repeating structures were uncommon during anatomy practicals. Due to the different cuts that were made on the brain, repeating structures on the neuroscience practical IS common! So do not be alarmed by writing lateral ventricle 5 different times as I was on my first practical today!
- Similarly to anatomy lab, make sure you orient yourself! Spend time before the practical looking at the brain in various positions. During the practical, it may not be placed in correct anatomical positioning, so best come prepared for that!
- Learn the anatomy while also learning block material. This helped me in both anatomy and neuroscience practical. Even if you may not be able to understand what a structure is pointing at, you can use the knowledge and contextual clues that you learned through class material to help you determine the final structure.
