ALL THAT REMAINS

It was on the 2nd day of December when we had our cadaver visit in the Medicine
building in the University of Santo Tomas. At first I was quite excited to see a real
human cadaver. I thought that it would be fun to see real organs of human beings. It
made me think that maybe through this activity I might be able to fully understand what
really is inside us humans. I might even rethink my future plans of becoming a doctor
maybe. On that same day was our Computer Final Exams. Before the visit we finished
our final exams first and then made our way to the Medicine Building afterwards. We
went through the Anatomy Gallery where they showed us different specimens from
arms, legs, human heads and even foetuses whose bodies were preserved. It may
seem inhuman to think that people would do these kinds of stuff but in the field of
medicine it is not. Doctors need to learn what and how the human body works and to
fully understand this is by studying human cadavers. The human body is a complex
system where every organ that works helps another organ. I think that it is amazing how
God created the human body so perfect that every organ has its own specific function.
After we went through the gallery, we went to another room where the human cadavers
were held. It was then we saw the bodies and their color seem to resemble roasted pig.
I was surprised because I didnt really expect that they would be color brown. I thought
that they would still be in their human colors. As our professor explained everything, I
have learned that some of the cadavers were prisoners where when they die their
bodies would then be made as cadavers to aid doctors in studying humans. Some of
them could be registered cadaver volunteers and if they die their bodies would then be
donated to medical schools or health institutes. As we went through, I saw the different
organs that a person may have. I saw the cranium or the skull and it did really have
sutures. At first when we were studying the skeletal system I thought that sutures were
just marks people have made themselves but I was thought to be true when I saw it for
myself. I also saw the persons lungs and it was spongy and somewhat soft. I didnt
really expect it to be like that because it didnt really seem so in the books. After the
brief discussion of our professor we were then told to explore and understand the
cadaver. My other classmates even tried to open up the mans chest and see if her still
have his heart inside but it didnt. Some of them tried to analyse the skin and try to
identify which part is which.
After everything we asked our professor how many years it would take to finish medical
school. He told us that it takes a lot of time from the time after you graduate pre-med
there would be another extra three years to learn and understand everything from
biochemistry, physiology, anatomy, pharmacology and etc. Not just that but you would
still have a year of internship and another year for post-graduate internship. After this
you can take the board exam but after that you would still have almost three to six years
of residency for your chosen medical field. I asked myself whether I should become a
doctor or not? Just think about spending almost half of your life studying and missing
every important event. Medicine is a calling and not just a simple job anyone could take
in. It was told that the workload in medical school is immense. But who knows? Maybe
someday I would change my mind and maybe someday I would become a successful
doctor just like my mom. Im still in my second year in college and there would still be
time to think things through. I just hope that I would make the right decision.
I have learned that cadavers are important in the study of medicine because it helps
doctors and other medical practitioners understand what and how the human body
works. Without the cadavers it would be hard for them to understand and analyse
different kinds of diseases.

Orlando Angelo U. Cerezo III

2D-Ph (December 2015)

Sonia Ibarrientos

Gamaliel Issamar de Vera

PHYANA Lab Instructor

PHYANA Lab Instructor