The Table Hopper

Please Note: This article is intended for 1^st year medical students.
 

A simple but smart way to improve you performance in gross anatomy viva exam is to go table hopping.

In the gross anatomy dissection hall, usually students are divided in batches and allotted one particular dissection table. The students are expected to stay only at their allotted table and dissect and study the cadaver allotted to them.

The problem with this approach is that, student get so familiar with the cadaver allotted to them that different muscles, blood vessels, nerve, etc. get memorized to them by sight.

In exam, when asked questions on different cadaver specimen, the students gets confused.

It is like you can recognize your friends instantly, but get lost for words if you are asked to describe them accurately to a stranger.

So, the smart students go to different dissection tables and try to identify the structures there. This exercises their brains and teaches them the scientific method to identify the body structures. The students also get to see the different variations in normal anatomy, which will help in exams.

For example, in their dissection table, the student knows where the radial nerve is, but when he goes to a different table, he has start from step one, i.e. identify the posterior surface of the arm, identify the triceps muscle, look below it to find the nerve, which will be radial nerve.

They can also ask their fellow students at the different dissection table, to point out the important structures to them, so easily revising the anatomy.

And if someone comes to your dissection table and ask you to demonstrate the various anatomical structures, don’t take this as an intrusion in your territory. Make use of this occasion to demonstrate the various structures to your visiting fellow student as this provides an opportunity to practice for your own anatomy viva again improving your marks.

But beware, table hopping can be seen as sign of indiscipline by the teachers, which may be counter-productive in exam. In our time, Dr. M. L. Ajmani, used to particularly frown upon such table hopping. So, move and stay invisible like a ninja. 

(Based on true experience)

— ND

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DISCLAIMER: This article is intended only for fun purpose. The author does not promote or recommend any behavior illustrated here or claim it to be useful. Use of the information herein is at you one's own risk. Before trying to emulate or follow anything the reader is well advised to take into account ethical, moral, legal and other considerations. The author recommends that Medical Education should be of the highest ethical and moral level keeping in mind the interest of the patient as foremost and according to MCI and other Board’s norm. 
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