Hemisection of the Pelvis

In gross lab today we dismembered our cadaver.  Meaning, we removed his leg via a hemisection to be able to view the muscles, organs and neurovascular structures of the perineum.  Many folks didn't like seeing this as it was being carried out.  A lot of frowns and ghostly white-colored faces were present as the hacksaws cut above the iliac crest and straight up the midline of the buttocks and pubic symphysis.  To do this, we had to lay ol' Herby on his side, bring up his top leg as if he was doing the jumping jacks and start sawing.  I wasn't sure how I would react and thought about this prior to class.  It didn't help having only 3 hours of sleep the night prior, but there was nothing I could do about it.  I didn't over analyze the situation. 

Usel and Poytress manned the saw and I held the leg steady.  As they worked up midline, the gap became larger and larger and eventually came to the initial saw incision above the iliac crest.  The leg broke free and there I was holding it in my own two hands.  It was an eerie moment.  I promptly sat it down on the metal dissection table and tried not to watch what happened next.  Usel and Poytress found there to be a significant amount of solid waste in the rectum which clogged the blade's teeth as they sawed.  When the leg was set aside, the rectum was in full view on both sides and completely full of "you know what".  The smell was disgusting and the sight of it unbearable.  I had to take my focus off of what they were doing so I went to the lab bench and went through our final structure list.

I tried very hard today to remember he chose to donate his body to science before he passed.  I kept that in my mind as the saw was slicing and especially when the leg came free and remained balanced in my hands.  

The dissection was very interesting as it uncovered many of the older structures from gross I last fall.  Our new structure list is quite detailed.  There two full pages of new and old anatomical names and we must get them down in the next two weeks.  Time is running out this quarter and there is a TON of work to be done. 

To end, I have to say, I am super excited to only have one more dissection left to complete.  

Good night