Anatomy and Dissections

Throughout my studies (past and present), anatomy has been a weaker subject for me as I struggle to correlate the theory (muscle properties, nerve locations et cetera) with the subject before me when I cannot clearly visualise. Completing multiple thorough dissections greatly assisted with my understanding of anatomy and subsequently deepened my appreciation for hands-on and interactive learning, which has been shown to improve knowledge retention and understanding of new concepts (Young and Hyunjoo, 2020).

I found during my final year mock practical exam at undergraduate level that I struggled with recalling anatomy information whilst under pressure. In preparation for my upcoming practical exam, I have spent time drawing anatomical features on dogs and horses to solidify my location awareness and allow me to visualise structures and recall information (and I am extremely grateful to friends for letting me colour in their animals!). I have also learnt that applying mild to moderate stress (time pressure during revising i.e. 30 seconds to answer a question) improves my learning capabilities; this has been proven in clinical studies, finding a correlation between stress hormones and memory consolidation (Schwabe et al., 2009)

As I progress my practice, I intend to keep actively refreshing my anatomical knowledge and I would like to attend a CPD dissection working with Horses Inside Out to allow me to deliver the best service I can, and link anatomy with my clients’ performance and/or rehabilitation effectively.