Recently, Kelsie Leslie’s Anatomy and Physiology class traveled to the Cox Science Center to further their studies on the human brain and perform dissections. Located in West Palm Beach, the Cox Center includes an aquarium, an artifact exhibition of the Titanic, a walking tour of the Journey Through the Human Brain, and most significantly, a lab for performing dissections. 

In small groups, students were able to put their knowledge of anatomy into practice. 

“My favorite part of the trip was the frog dissection, and this was the third animal I dissected,” senior Sofie Alikhan said. “I dissected cats and turtles in preparation for veterinary school. This experience was very helpful to kickstart getting used to the typical procedures practiced,” she said. 

Throughout the frog dissection, students identified common organs found in the amphibian’s body, such as the liver, heart, gallbladder, and intestines. To many, the dissection served as a way to link together material in class to its practical use.

“I’m interested in a medical career in the future and it helps to get exposure to dissections and even exhibits,” senior Luke Kenney said. “It’s nice to learn all that information and absorb it in a way that isn’t just sitting in a classroom.”

In addition to the frog dissection, students also experienced the interactive Journey Through the Human Brain, which provided students with an all-immersive learning experience. From three dimensional structures of a neuron to witnessing a mock MRI scan, students were able to get an inside glimpse into the structures of the brain. 

“It was interesting because I learned how impacts affect damage to the brain through an interactive model of helmet and non-helmeted collisions,” junior Kiren Farooqui said. 

Ultimately, the trip to the Cox Center proved to be beneficial to all by translating learned information into practical applications and embarking on a journey to a future medical pathway.