Guest Column by Bullard High School Newspaper Journalists

When I walk into my 6th period class, I don’t get out my textbook and paper. Instead, I pull my hair back, take off my jewelry, and pull on latex gloves, as if I’m preparing for surgery. This may not seem like normal classroom procedure, but it is for Anatomy and Physiology. For six weeks, we came to class ready to dissect a fetal pig. We hacked and poked at the pig. We studied every muscle, organ, and bone, storing information about placement and function in our brains for use on the next test.

When we first separated into groups of two or three and received our pigs, our task was rather disconcerting and hard to stomach. The baby- sized domestic pig looked a little too real for my tastes. It had hair, nails, and eyelashes. The stench of the formaldehyde was overwhelming and disturbing. Even after several hand washings, you could not get the smell of latex off your hands. Even so, we tried to make the best of the situation. Attempting to have some fun, my partner and I affectionately named it Antoinette (a.k.a Netty). So you can imagine my despair when we had to begin actually slicing open our somewhat less than lively pet.

As time passed, I became accustomed to the idea of using the tiny pig as a scientific source. I had to detach myself from the emotional aspect, and look at it from a dispassionate view. Then I was able to dissect the mammal and learn from its structure. Interestingly, every pig was different in some way. Most contained the same organs and muscles. However, they were different shades of color and different sizes. A few had deformities, and one seemed to be missing a couple organs. That diversity is something you certainly won’t find in a model or book. That is real life and shows the slight peculiarities all living things have.

Although the gruesome assignment might seem barbaric or unnecessary, it was truly worthwhile. Anatomy and physiology is a class that will prepare a student for what they would face in the medical field. Particularly, the dissection of the fetal pig readies them for college classes required for any medical job. The unique educational experience will provide students with a foundation of knowledge they can build on for years to come. On a grander scale, it was awe inspiring to see how seamlessly all the gooey organ systems work together to form a living thing. That same amazing functionality is marvelously depicted in humans. I will no longer think of a pig as simple, sloppy, or just my breakfast. Who would have thought that a common pig would be composed of so many complexities and a wide range of diversity?