29- Mallare, Janick Briand E.

October 23, 2014

2F-MT Phyana LAB
Cadaver Visit Reflection
Studying the human body is indeed an exciting activity to do inside the classroom. But
what better way to explore it by looking at a real one, cadavers! As a student in the medical field,
I have been looking forward to my first close up experience with a cadaver. I have heard stories,
read articles; I even tried to peep into the room filled with cadavers as Medicine students do their
usual work.
When my professor announced the schedule of our first cadaver viewing activity, I could
not help but feel different emotions at the same time. I was happy because I thought of it as a
step closer to my dream of becoming a doctor; I was worried that I may not appreciate what I
was about to stumble upon. But overall, I was excited, because who would not want to see a
human body preserved in a room of several other bodies with each one ready to be studied,
labeled, and pondered upon.
On the 20
th
of October 2014, the day of the visit, I went to school really early like I was
so prepared to have cadavers for breakfast. And while my block mates and I were waiting
outside of the anatomy section of the building, I could not help but to picture what we were
about to see. Finally, our laboratory instructor showed up and let us enter a room of roughly 50
cadavers. Without hesitation, I followed him together with my classmates who were excited as
well.
We gathered around two covered bodies. The moment of truth arrives, the instructor
asked to slowly open the body bags or whatever that covering was called. To someone who
always encounters cadavers, he/she would feel nothing. But inside me, it was a glorious moment;
I was standing by the lower extremities of the subject and slowly, after all the stories, articles,
weird imaginations, there it was, a real cadaver in front of me! I tried to recall objects it looked
alike but I spent most of the time looking at how well preserved it was and contemplating on
how generous the people who donated these bodies were. Simultaneously, the excitement inside
me gradually declined as our professor started discussing and reciting various facts about
cadavers.
We were given ample time to circulate the laboratory and be able to open the other
cadavers. With every other body we uncovered, I had less and less expectations. I started to think
that if I am going to pursue my dream of becoming a doctor, then most probably I would see
cadavers every day of my life in the future, which I think is amazing.
After the activity, I would say that I had a great time. I felt lucky to be part of it because
not all Thomasians have the opportunity of this one-of-a-kind experience and I would never
forget my first time seeing not only one but so many cadavers in a day.