"The greatest mistake in the treatment of diseases is that there are physicians for the body and physicians for the soul, although the two cannot be separated."

I found the quote above on a website and found it to be true not only in medical careers but most professions in life.  We may be salesmen, teachers, bankers, landscapers, pastors, or a stay at home parent but in reality we are all more than our career dictates-- the true meaning of our careers is not giving someone a perscription or teaching someone math or literature or making them breakfast but its the lasting mark we make on their hearts that  makes the difference.

We took our fifth biochemistry and second physiology exam yesterday.  The biochemitry exam was by far my biggest worry- it tested our knowledge of metabolism (metabolism is how our bodies break down the things we eat into usable energy for our cells)  The physiology exam covered the Gastro-Intestinal system which is not my favorite (like my gross anatomy anal and urogenital triangle dissection:  I'm glad both of these systems work but don't really want to know too many details)

After the tests yesterday morning my group had to start the next dissection in the gross anatomy lab.  This block of dissection is "head and neck".  Disclaimer to the following- the following might be a little much for the squemesh.

My group's dissection yesterday included removing the skin from the facial region.  There are LOTS of muscles that make you smile, frown, raise your eye brows, and even allow you to wiggle you ears. I actually liked this dissection as barbaric as that sounds, the face is so interesting and defines what we are visually to others.  Eventually during this block we will take the top of the cranium (skull) off and the neuroanatomy professors will come and help us take out the brain.  The day before thankgiving we "disarticulate the head". Yikes. If you would like to see a cartoon drawing of some of these facial muscles and see what muscle moves what part of your face click on these two links:

Cartoon of Facial Muscles

Muscles that Cause Facial movement

October and November have by far been the most rigorous part thus far of medical school.  They have ramped up the intensity as the year has gone adding more classes and stacking up more and more tests on one day and not much time between test blocks.  I've done  pretty well thus far thanks to my masters' degree background.


To future medical students: If you are thinking about going to medical school - TAKE GROSS ANATOMY AT A GRADUATE LEVEL FIRST! You have no idea how thankful I am I did this. Those in my class who have not had any anatomy wish they had taken a cadaver gross anatomy before they came to medical school.  If you are living in Mississippi or even if you don't- I recommend going to Mississippi College and doing thier medical masters' program- this was probably the best decision I made regarding medical school prep.


Thanks for reading.

9 days to Thanksgiving
34 days to Christmas!

Salt and Light,

Kelly