Dr. Tran really helped me out with all those questions I had about the app process. Thanks once again for that. For me, classes have been trudging on. Even though I have more free time, I seem to be wasting it by looking at phones, going on Facebook, and just surfing the internet in general. I must say that my Mammalian Anatomy class is much better this semester. I’m getting a better hang of memorizing all the different structures of the body and recognizing them on the cadaver. We just finished the gluteal region, learning all the muscles and nerves in that area. The sciatic nerve is so bloody thick; its like the size of my pinky. Anyway, what makes this semester better is that we got a new teacher for the lecture, and this teacher although trained in Microbiology, took the Gross Anatomy class at Loma Linda University before she came to teach us. So basically she is teaching in the same style that I would be taught if I went there. What also makes this year better is that this new teacher believes in multiple choice tests, which my teacher last semester didn’t. It kind of makes life better, plus it better prepares you for med school since many of their tests are multiple choice. One of the coolest things we do in class now are the Clinical Correlates. Basically, depending on what part of the body we studying and dissecting, we get a clinical case, along with a bunch of questions we have to answers. Its cool because you actually get to apply your factual knowledge, and you kinda feel like a doctor in the end when you figure out what the problem is. For instance, here is the last case we got:
Following a major operation, a patient was place on a course of antibiotics, which were to be delivered via intramuscular injection to the buttocks. After on of these injections, the patient complained of more pain than usual in the region of the injection. Later as the patient was taking his afternoon walk in the hall, the nurse noticed that he was walking with a limp that had not been present before—his hip dropped every time he lifted his left foot off the floor, but on the right side, his pelvis remained level when he lifted his right foot. The doctor was called and after a brief examination, she concluded that the injection damaged a nerve that resulted in muscle weakness, which caused the patient’s unusual limp.1. Based on the vignette above, which muscles are affected? On Which side
2. If these muscles are affected, which nerve must be damaged? Where is this nerve located in the buttock and where does it originate?
3. What other structures in the posterior hip/buttocks region might be damaged by an inappropriately administered intramuscular injection or other penetrating injury
4. Based on your knowledge of this anatomy of this region, where is the best location for administering intramuscular injections to avoid damaging any important structures
5. Why might an intramuscular injection be used instead of a subcutaneous or intravenous injection?
6. What is the clinical name given to the symptoms the patient displayed following the injury and what other conditions might cause it?
In case you were curious, the clinical name is Trendelenburg sign/gluteal gait, and its caused by trauma to the superior gluteal nerve which supplies the gluteus medius and minimus muscles. The sagging of the hip on the lifted leg shows weakness in the gluteus medius and minimus muscles on the supporting leg. Anyway, I don’t care what ya think; I love this stuff!!!
My photography class is very interesting but more work than I thought. There are just too many numbers to memorize when taking a picture. I could literally take 10 minutes making sure I have all the right setting on my camera to get the perfect picture. I’ll probably get better with practice, but I’m feeling lazy right now.
Brittany and I talked last night and went over our medical school list (I posted it in the last post). We decided to make one last change. We took off GW and Georgetown from the list. We did this for a couple of reasons: 1) The amazing amount of debt you leave with 2) The volume of applications they received 3) Their average MCAT scores 4) Other things. We were really only applying because it was close to home. Its actually too expensive to live around those schools, and the amount of debt we would end up with would hinder us from doing mission work. Another pretty obvious region was that we were going to spend $100 for GW and $115 for Georgetown secondary application fees and probably be rejected as soon as they got our checks (just based on stats alone). I didn’t waste money. So yeah, we are only going to apply to 8 schools, and trust in the Lord. The total amount of money I have to spend for AMCAS apps and secondary apps at this point is $795, which aint bad at all.
My goal is to have all my needed LORs submitted to Interfolio from my teachers before this semester is finished. That way, come secondary time in July and August they’ll be ready to be mailed out. I’m truly taking the advice of Ms. Hicks from UMD to apply early. Basically, I plan on submitting my AMCAS on the first day possible (June 1st), mailing in my transcript on May 1st, having a 1 week turn around on all my secondaries, having all my LORs mailed the second I receive the secondary app, and hopefully receive interview invites as early as August / September. I know my stats aren’t superb, so I’m making sure that I’m at the top of these rolling admissions. What I’ve noticed, especially from upperclassmen at my school is that they may have like a 25 MCAT with a 3.5 GPA, and yet they miss vital deadlines in this app process. If you don’t have a 4.0, and a 39 on your MCAT I would definitely suggest that you apply REALLY early. One girl I knew had a 25 on her MCAT, but applied REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY early, and was accepted really early. Where as other students who applied latter but had better stats had a harder time getting in.
Anyway, things are going well. Until next time; peace.
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