PTA 2010
Functional Anatomy
This class put the "fun" into functional anatomy! It was so different from the general anatomy class I took previously, where we basically had to memorize the locations and names of every body structure. In this class we focused on how the different parts of the body work together to initiate and carry out movements.
The most important thing I learned from this class is, "the task drives the movement".
This concept helped me to make sense of everything we learned. An example would be looking at things like, all of the special senses are located in the head; therefore, the head needs the ability to move in large degrees through all planes of movement. This method of thinking helped me make sense of the anatomy of the neck. Knowing the movements needed, the types of joints, and where muscles are located all came together as I understood the functional aspects of each area of the body.
After our classroom studies we had the opportunity to examine the muscles in the cadaver lab. It was very helpful for me to see the orientation of the muscles in person. We also practiced locating the muscles on classmates during our palpation lab. This was a new experience for me, but I found that learning how to isolate each muscle through the contraction of that muscle really allowed my brain to work in more of a problem solving way, rather than attempting to memorize all the information. This was much more memorable to me than studying illustrations in a book.
I enjoyed this class, and found it extremely interesting. I believe that understanding the anatomy of body movements is the foundation for the proper treatment of patients.
The most important thing I learned from this class is, "the task drives the movement".
This concept helped me to make sense of everything we learned. An example would be looking at things like, all of the special senses are located in the head; therefore, the head needs the ability to move in large degrees through all planes of movement. This method of thinking helped me make sense of the anatomy of the neck. Knowing the movements needed, the types of joints, and where muscles are located all came together as I understood the functional aspects of each area of the body.
After our classroom studies we had the opportunity to examine the muscles in the cadaver lab. It was very helpful for me to see the orientation of the muscles in person. We also practiced locating the muscles on classmates during our palpation lab. This was a new experience for me, but I found that learning how to isolate each muscle through the contraction of that muscle really allowed my brain to work in more of a problem solving way, rather than attempting to memorize all the information. This was much more memorable to me than studying illustrations in a book.
I enjoyed this class, and found it extremely interesting. I believe that understanding the anatomy of body movements is the foundation for the proper treatment of patients.
