Honors Anatomy and Physiology Visits Drexel's Cadaver Lab

The 30 juniors and seniors in the Honors Anatomy and Physiology classes put their learning into action when they had the opportunity to visit Drexel University College of Medicine's cadaver lab and simulation center on April 3.

Led by Upper School Science Teachers Jenn Jones and Sharon Reynolds, along with Greville Haslam Head of School Dr. T.J. Locke, Hon. and Head Chaplain Tim Gavin, Hon., the students first first spent an hour in the cadaver lab rotating through 10 stations to learn about different pathologies and body systems on the cadavers, with medical students assisting. 

"At one station, students saw kidney stones, another had a pacemaker, a few had knee replacements, and one had a GI tube," said Mrs. Jones. "Most students were nervous at first, but handled themselves very well when they got in the lab. The medical students were extremely knowledgeable and created a comfortable environment for the students, and the faces of the cadavers were covered, so I think that helped a lot ease their worries. If students wanted to see the complexity of the head, the faces were exposed and students had an opportunity to view sinuses, the tongue, and the eye region. Each one was a different take-away."

Julianna Yates '24 said being in the cadaver lab was a "unique learning experience" and she was keen to "see all of the topics we’ve been studying all year in person, taught to us by med students who have been working on the cadavers."

Following the cadaver lab, students spent time in Drexel's simulation center, where they interacted with mannequins that could be programmed to mimic patients in a doctor's office and do things like state symptoms, give birth, and have IVs put in them, among other things.

"I was surprised at how realistic the lab was," Julianna said. "The 'faux' patients had real pulses, could blink, and could even have reactions to the medicine they were given. Teachers can teach interactively through the simulation lab by talking through the mannequins to act like the patient. I was impressed and surprised by this feature."

During their field trip, A&P students also had the chance to meet and talk with two different medical school professors: one who was a neuroscientist and one who was a forensic pathologist. During these small group sessions, students saw human brains with tumors and that had strokes and discussed the anatomy and physiology of bone.

"This experience is definitely one of my most favorite things to do with the A&P classes each year," Mrs. Jones said. "It's a great way to not only begin to wrap up the year and bring together everything we have learned, but also provide them with a hands-on experience that enhances their understanding of human anatomy in ways textbooks cannot achieve alone. Interacting with real human specimens fosters a deeper appreciation for the complexity and variability of the human body, helping students grasp concepts such as anatomical structure, organ function, and the interconnectedness of bodily systems. Additionally, it offered a unique opportunity for students to develop essential skills in observation, critical thinking, and teamwork while preparing them for further studies and careers in healthcare or biological sciences."

For Julianna, the trip's hands-on opportunities were the pinnacle of the experience. "Dissection and hands-on exploring beyond what we learn on paper and through the textbook is the best part of A&P class," she explained.