Students Practice Surgical Techniques
Students in the high school veterinary science class have been working on suture techniques. They practice this by utilizing chicken legs to represent a live tissue structure. They got the materials from Sunshine Foods and Moon Creek Vet Clinic for the suture lab.
They also dissected a fetal pig, where the students learned the internal anatomy of the pigs and how they compare to the human anatomy. Through this dissection the students were able to identify age and gender. Mr. Rockhill gets his fetal pigs from Carolina Labs.
Trey, a junior student, enjoyed dissecting the fetal pig the most because it was a hands-on learning experience. Trey stated, “I was able to see all the different organs of the pig, which was a really cool experience in and of itself. My favorite part was dissecting the pigs heart and brain and cutting it apart to look at all the individual aspects. I learned a lot about suturing and the proper way to dissect an animal. I also learned how to properly handle the tools within the suture kit and how to properly clean them. I personally enjoy dissecting and suturing because it’s a great learning experience.”
In vet science they learn about different veterinary procedures, suturing, dissecting, proper animal safety and handling, and just recently got an artificial insemination simulator. Trey thinks the knowledge of dissections will help with his career in the medical field. Mr. Rockhill has been teaching vet science for four years. The students are learning skills and knowledge they can use outside of the classroom.