Search

The purpose of this study was to develop a teaching guide to demonstrate the gross characteristics of pathology in embalmed cadaveric lungs and to and to assess the guide as an effective teaching tool. Ninety-eight embalmed cadaveric lungs were screened for pathology. The characteristics of pathologic states of the embalmed lungs were recorded and histopathologic confirmation was performed. Pneumonia, neoplasms, emphysema, chronic bronchitis and diffuse interstitial lung disease were the most commonly observed pathologic lesions. Discoloration of the parenchyma and edema were the most commonly observed artifacts from the embalming process. Medical and nursing students who used the guide had significantly more ability to identify pathologic lesions than control groups. This guide will assist faculty and students in obtaining the skills needed to examine and interpret the gross presentation of an embalmed cadaveric lung. [This article is the third of a three-part series. To view the second article, "A New Resource for Integrated Anatomy Teaching: The Cadaver's Kidney PG (Pathology Guide)," see EJ1227997.]

The purpose of this study was to create a guide to assist students in evaluating an embalmed cadaveric kidney for pathologic lesions and to assess the guide as an effective teaching tool. Seventy-six kidneys were screened grossly and histologically for pathology. The most common pathologic incidences discovered during the screening were: neoplasms, nephrosclerosis, chronic pyelonephritis, cysts and acute kidney injury. Based on the anatomic screening, an educational resource was created and validated for content. Then, an educational intervention was performed with nursing and medical students using the guide. In both student populations, the student group that used the guide significantly outperformed the control group in evaluating organs for pathology (p<0.01). These results suggest that the pathology resource can be an effective way to teach students to identify pathologic lesions in an embalmed cadaveric kidney. [This article is the second of a three-part series. To view the first article, "A New Resource for Integrated Anatomy Teaching: The Cadaver's Heart PG (Pathology Guide)," see EJ1227994.]

The purpose of this project was to develop guides to assist in the examination of a fixed cadaveric hearts and evaluate their effectiveness for assisting students in identifying pathologic lesions. A thorough anatomic examination was performed on 36 cadaveric hearts to determine the "normal" characteristics of an embalmed cadaveric heart and to identify gross pathology. Comprehensive guides with detailed images were prepared and disseminated into two gross anatomy courses, one in the medical school and the other in nursing. Both student groups were assessed to evaluate the effectiveness of the guides as an educational resource. Students who used the guide had a significantly better ability to identify pathology in a cadaveric heart than students in the control group. Implementation of this guide in the gross anatomy laboratory will advance the educational utility of the cadaver. It will also assist faculty and students to identify more learning opportunities from cadaveric tissue that is ultimately sourced from willed-body donors. [This article is the first of a three-part series. To view the second article, "A New Resource for Integrated Anatomy Teaching: The Cadaver's Kidney PG (Pathology Guide)," see EJ1227997.]