First of all, we read through a neuroanatomy book, to get ideas of how all of the structures functioned in the brain. Along with this we could study the deficits that could be seen with damage to these areas. For example, we studied the corotid arteries and the vertebral arteries; learning first their structures, functions, and where they were located in the brain, then we read about the syptoms of damage. Those can be different with different kinds of damage. If there was damage to the vertebral arteries, say maybe an obstruction, there could be some vision loss. Damage to the right corotid artery can cause loss of sensation of the left side of the body. The only ways to find out the actual damages are to take visual pictures of the brain with MRIs or by a process of injecting contrast material into the arteries to check for blockage.
These were the types of things we were required to know, in addition to deficits with vision, hearing, loss of pain and temperature sensation, movement problems, general symptoms, speech, breathing, and proprioceptive deficits. Once we learned about all of these areas, we were required to create short tests that would show the problems.
On the day of testing we were given 10 minutes to view the case file of the patient, then the patient would enter; they wer students who had been allowed to review their file for a few days, so they could accurately present themselves as patients. Each group had about four people in it, each reviewing a separate patient. We were allowed 10 minutes to run our tests with the patient, grade also on our bedside manner. Once the ten minutes were up, we could confer for another 10 minutes to come up with a diagnosis and a prognosis. Then the patient could come back in and listen to us tell him/her about the diagnosis.
It is so intersesting to actually be able to apply what you have been learning. Our preceptot in the class says that this lab is the reasonwhy she decided to go to medical school, to do that very thing. Our next lab, I'm not really sure what we are going to do but its labeled, Clinical Neuropsychology-I'm excited. In the lab where we got to disect the brains, we had a test at the end where our professor took many samples of different brains and stuck pins in them. It was our responsibility to name all of the fifty parts and give the function for some of them. I really learned a lot with that.
The one other thing that we are doing, it we have to create a 20 page research paper and put it on the web. We are in groups of five and we can choose our own topic. Our group chose Phantom Limb. Sound strange? Well, look back in a few weeks, and you can take a look at a really interesting topic.
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