Many of us on the board have talked about donating our bodies to science after we die.
But, did you ever wonder what happens to your body then?
Well, Ive been reading a book called, "Stiff, The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers" by Mary Roach
It talks about how important cadavers have been in history. And it lets you know what might happen to your body, after it has been donated.
The funny thing is we imagine being part of a gross anatomy class, but human cadavers are being replaced with computers and other methods of study.
You could end up doing the important job of being a crash test dummy! Dead humans are used in crash tests. The crash dummies we think of aren't much good for a real clue about what tolerances a body has in a crash. We all know about the problems with children and air bags. The problem was that people don't donate their children's bodies to science, so pigs were used instead to test the air bags on children. It wasn't very accurate testing.
Or the Univ. of Tenn. may just put you in a field. They have a forensic research program there, and they study how human bodies decompose in nature.
Gross anatomy labs treat their bodies with great respect. Some hold memorial services for the cadavers at the end of their use, and invite the families of the cadavers they studied.
Here is a quote from the chapter about the gross anatomy lab service,
"One young woman's tribute describes unwrapping her cadaver's hands and being brought up short by the realization that the nails were painted pink. "The pictures in the anatomy atlas did not show nail polish", she wrote, "did you choose the color?...Did you think that I would see it?... I wanted to tell you about the inside of your hands... I wanted you to know you are always there when I see patients. When I palpate and abdomen, yours are the organs I imagine. When I listen to a heart, I recall holding your heart."
It was really quite touching, and made me feel that cadavers are important and you can make a contribution even after death.
But, did you ever wonder what happens to your body then?
Well, Ive been reading a book called, "Stiff, The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers" by Mary Roach
It talks about how important cadavers have been in history. And it lets you know what might happen to your body, after it has been donated.
The funny thing is we imagine being part of a gross anatomy class, but human cadavers are being replaced with computers and other methods of study.
You could end up doing the important job of being a crash test dummy! Dead humans are used in crash tests. The crash dummies we think of aren't much good for a real clue about what tolerances a body has in a crash. We all know about the problems with children and air bags. The problem was that people don't donate their children's bodies to science, so pigs were used instead to test the air bags on children. It wasn't very accurate testing.
Or the Univ. of Tenn. may just put you in a field. They have a forensic research program there, and they study how human bodies decompose in nature.
Gross anatomy labs treat their bodies with great respect. Some hold memorial services for the cadavers at the end of their use, and invite the families of the cadavers they studied.
Here is a quote from the chapter about the gross anatomy lab service,
"One young woman's tribute describes unwrapping her cadaver's hands and being brought up short by the realization that the nails were painted pink. "The pictures in the anatomy atlas did not show nail polish", she wrote, "did you choose the color?...Did you think that I would see it?... I wanted to tell you about the inside of your hands... I wanted you to know you are always there when I see patients. When I palpate and abdomen, yours are the organs I imagine. When I listen to a heart, I recall holding your heart."
It was really quite touching, and made me feel that cadavers are important and you can make a contribution even after death.
WTF?? Did you ever get your tonsils out dude? Would you rather die than get your appendix out if it's going to burst??? Aiyiyi! Did you know your body stays here on the planet even if you do meet the maker? Duh!
