The Microanatomy Lesson

A friend of Dr. Dev (Fictional Name), during his MBBS days, in AIIMS, New Delhi, asked him to help him revise the micro-anatomy slides before his exams. He had arranged a microscope and anatomy slides for the revision session.

For Non-medicos: Anatomy is the study of the structure of the human body. Microanatomy is the study of the anatomy at a microscopic level, i.e. how the different parts of the body look under a microscope.

Dr. Dev took a slide of the small intestine and after focussing the slide in the microscope, he started explaining that this is small intestine as we can see the simple columnar epithelial cell in the mucosal (inner) side, the smooth muscle cells in the middle and serosal cells in the outer most part.

On hearing this, his friend got irritated and asked angrily, ‘What are you talking about this cell and that cell? Please explain and teach properly!’

As his friend was midway in his first-year course, Dr. Dev got surprised that what details he could not understand. Dev asked his friend to clarify what he wanted him to e,xplain. His friend replied, ‘what is this columnar epithelial cells, that muscles cells and serosal cells you are talking about’?

Dr. Dev got surprised. The cells are like alphabets to sentences. Cells come together to forms tissue, like alphabets makes words. The tissues are organized to form organs like words form sentences. Finally, the sentence makes paragraph like the organs make the human body.

If someone does not know the alphabet how can he read a paragraph? Similarly, if someone does not know how the different types of cells look under the microscope he or she cannot identify what tissue he or she is seeing. If one cannot identify the tissue being seen under the microscope then one cannot identify the organ being seen. 

Dr. Dev did some background digging. As his friend was a foreign student, due to administrative delay he joined AIIMS, New Delhi, late when the classes had already started. The basics of microanatomy, the different types of cells, was taught in the first few classes that he had missed due to his late joining. This spoiled the entire understanding of microanatomy for the rest of the academic period. It was a wonder that he scored at least some marks in his first exam. 

Once Dr. Dev learned this fact, he started explaining to his friend right from the basics which were taught in the beginning classes and slowly build up his knowledge to the level of his other classmates.

Sometimes students miss the early classes of a subject for a variety of reasons. Some reason such as late joining due to late allotment of college may be beyond the student’s control. But sometimes students deliberately miss the first few classes as they think they are not important or they want to enjoy, relax and just chill for some times after studying so hard to crack the entrance exam to the college. They do not understand the importance of starting to study seriously from day one as the early classes form the foundation of later knowledge.

Without a good strong foundation one cannot build a strong building of knowledge.

 

So, whether microanatomy or any other subject, do not miss the early first classes and take them seriously.

If due to some reason you miss the classes, then start at the earliest to study and cover up the missed course, either by extra classes or with the help of your teachers and classmates.

 (Based on allegedly true incident)

— 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 Practice should be of the highest ethical and moral level keeping in mind the interest of the patient as foremost. 

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.