June 21, 2002 Dear Class of D'06 Welcome to the Tufts Dental Gross Anatomy Homepage! This website is a resource where you can find information that will help you prepare for the course, including the course schedule, a list of books and supplies and faculty addresses. You will also find links to the On-line Syllabus, Dissection Guide and Weekly Review that you will find helpful later during the semester. As you probably know, Dental Gross Anatomy, your first class at the Dental School, is a unique and challenging course that will lay the foundation for your future clinical experiences. It is also a class that requires constant effort and cooperation on the part of students and faculty. As you progress through the course, you will gain both knowledge and confidence, and by the end of the semester, you will be amazed at what you have learned! Remember: If you need help, please don't hesitate to contact me or other members of the anatomy teaching staff. We look forward to meeting and getting to know each of you as you embark on this great journey of discovery. Our first class will take place on Wednesday, September 4, in Merritt Auditorium. At this time, we will review the course syllabus and go over many "housekeeping" details that need attention. We will also have an introductory lecture on the Spinal Nerve and then proceed to the Gross Anatomy lab where we will begin the dissection of the Pectoral Region. You will therefore need to dress appropriately; scrubs or a lab coat over loose cotton clothing are appropriate. It is highly recommended that you read the Online Dissection Guide for the Pectoral Region before coming to lab. We will have recycled instruments for you to use, but we suggest that you purchase a supply of disposable rubber gloves. Also, you should be aware that contact lenses are not allowed in the gross lab. This is a particularly exciting year for me because, although having been a member of the teaching staff for the past four years, it is my first year as Course Director. I am particularly grateful to our former Course Director, Dr Myra Rufo, for her help in preparing me for this new adventure. Enjoy the rest of your summer. The anatomy staff and I look forward to meeting you in person very soon. Robert F. Willson Course Director, Dental Gross Anatomy rwillson@emerald.tufts.edu "The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes." - Marcel Proust It is the intent of this dissection manual to provide a means to facilitate the learning of human anatomy. The creation of this dissection manual, and the computer software program with the collection of videodisc images which accompany it, were developed by a team of individuals who place high value on education. While creating this multimedia approach to the study of human anatomy, the authors have been guided throughout by a single goal: to provide students and educators with a resource to enhance the discovery process inherent in the study of the human body. Various approaches are used in other dissection manuals. Some provide detailed anatomical description with few illustrations. Others present limited descriptions of anatomical structures with a great number of illustrations. Our innovation is to focus on concise descriptions of steps in the dissection process and provide key illustrations. Additionally, students can access a large videodisc image gallery which serves as a guide to the various steps of dissection. Steps of the dissection are illustrated with important structures individually identified and processes such as the reflection of muscles shown with a sequence of images. This approach not only provides students with a resource to guide them through the requisite steps of a particular laboratory, but also serves as a powerful tool for independent study and review. As you prepare to embark upon the process of discovery, realize the great privilege that you have been given to study and explore the anatomy of the human body. It is our shared hope that this knowledge will prepare the students of today with necessary tools to care for their patients as they become the physicians and health care providers of tomorrow. Introduction To study the human body in the dissecting laboratory is an unique opportunity. The dissection laboratory provides an environment in which the senses of touch and sight can be used to enhance one's understanding of the human body. One can truly see and feel structures which course beneath the skin, e.g. nerves, arteries and veins. Although the number of laboratory hours in gross anatomy courses have decreased in most medical schools, the dissection laboratory continues to be an educational setting in which students of anatomy gain a three-dimensional perspective of structural relationships. This manual was developed to facilitate learning of human anatomy. A central goal of the manual is to allow greater efficiency in the use of students' time in the laboratory, as well as in preparation and review. The method of dissection described in this manual represents a regional approach. Although the anatomy is presented regionally, it is incumbent upon the student to also view the human body from a systemic perspective. Remember that Gross Anatomy is a unique learning experience; it will lay the foundation of your anatomical knowledge for your future clinical experiences. Do yourself and the body donor justice by getting as much out of this course as you can. It can be an incredibly rewarding experience. The result will instill confidence as you progress from student to physician that will be greatly appreciated by colleagues, friends and patients alike. Enjoy the course and take it one day at a time. Balance your studying and take breaks and be sure to enjoy the change of seasons and get some fresh air! If you need help, consult with the course faculty... that's why we're here. We look forward to meeting and getting to know each of you during the Fall semester.