This article addresses an important topic of consent and calls for anatomists to become more involved in public education around the value of whole body donation.

DPT students taking Human Anatomy I & II learn the anatomy firsthand from human donors. Throughout the anatomy dissection process students observe the similarities and the subtle differences that make each of person who they are.

Understanding the clinical relevance of variations in the anatomy is an essential component of the learning that goes on in the anatomy laboratory. When students find an anatomical variation, they are both excited and inquisitive, wondering what impact this may have had on the person in life. In the context of the DPT human anatomy curriculum, students research variations they discover and if they are not documented, are asked to submit a manuscript.

Recently DPT students identified a renal artery and a forearm muscle variation in two human donors and published these clinically relevant findings in the International Journal of Anatomical Variations. The manuscripts are:

• High C, Scott C, Ruffer K, Antonelli C, Cope JM, Bilateral Duplicitous Renal Vasculature. IJAV; 2016;9: 67-69 at
• Bayliss J, Cope JM. A problematic variation of the palmaris profundus muscle. IJAV; 2016; 9:73-75 at

Associate Professor Janet Cope provided opening remarks. “Each person has their own reason for donating,” she said. “Some know that even in death they can still make a difference.”

Cope read excerpts from interviews she has had with people who are planning on whole body donation: “why not do something useful;” “if I can help someone become a better doctor, that is great;” “I think that students will come to know me, better than I know me;” “sometimes just showing up can make a difference, so I plan on showing up once I die.”

DPT students Colleen Lynott and Kelly Childress shared personal reflections based on their experience.

“To cope, I tried my best to see Mary more as a learning tool and less as a human being,” Lynott said. “But Mary refused to be seen as an anything other than what she was: a 92-year-old woman who donated her body to science so that students like me could further their education. The steadfast manner in which Mary refused to be reduced to an inanimate object gave me a new perspective on what it means to give. I began to emulate her altruism in my everyday life.

“All we knew about her when we met her was that she was 92 when she passed away, she had dementia and she was a writer,” Lynott added. “What they didn’t tell us, and what was perhaps the most relevant piece of information, was that at her core, Mary was a teacher. She showed me the complications of a possibly botched hip replacement. In doing so, she taught me how to recognize pain when I see it and to have compassion for things I may not fully understand.”

Childress read an essay she had written, titled “Earthly Body and Eternal Soul.”

“This week in my anatomy lab I have had the pleasure and been given the gift of exploring a human donor,” she said.” While literally and figuratively peeling back the layers of this donor it seemed to solidify our theory. There is no life, no feeling, and no thoughts. Simply the body is just a symbol, or a visual of a person we know.”

Kandra Selby and Marley Parsons offered comments drawn from their classmates while Kelly Clark read from Ecclesiastes 3:1-8.

Lucas Boyd performed “Lullaby from the The Civil War Musical” during the ceremony, and Fuller shared some closing remarks.

A reception was held at the Gerry Francis Center following the service. 

The DPT students also worked with smaller groups of 4-5 kids each to figure out where each bone belongs in the body.  “Oohs” and “Ahs” were heard often, as they made the connections and gained firsthand knowledge about how their bones all fit together. For the last part of the session, Eastlawn student volunteers came to the front with their backpacks to weigh in and find out if they are carrying too much on their back. It’s recommended that growing spines shouldn’t carry more than 10-15 percent of total body weight in a backpack.

Many of the DPT students were impressed by the amount of knowledge exhibited by the elementary school students, with Cope noting how the lessons make an impression on the teachers as well. “Hopefully, they take something away from this, too, and can reinforce it throughout the school year.” 

If you know of a school that might like to host a future Bones and Backpack session, please contact Dr. Cope at jcope2@elon.edu.

Anatomists Kathy Starr, Ph.D.; Jack Thomas, Ph.D.; and Ed Kernik, Ph.D., who teach in a number of PT education programs in the United States, participated in the study as on-site investigators and assisted in co-authoring the paper.

In the article, titled “Comparison of personal formaldehyde levels in anatomy laboratories of five physical therapy education programs,” the authors found that individuals in PT anatomy laboratories are routinely being exposed to levels of formaldehyde above health organization standards. Although students and instructors are exposed to similar levels of this known carcinogen, instructors rarely report being bothered by the odors or side effects of formaldehyde. Thus the instructors may show less concern regarding this safety issue, placing them at greater risk of long term health problems from chronic overexposure to formaldehyde.

‘I was nervous because I would know this person; I would know her name, what she did for work, how she died. I would not only see her face, but I would learn to analyze its musculature and nerves and blood vessels. I was nervous to get to know this person on a personal level. Now I look back and wonder why I was so nervous. This is a new level of learning and a new level of knowing a person. The lessons Ruth taught me will be with me forever. I will be better at whatever I do because I met Ruth.’

‘I was excited and scared, but mostly excited! It was not quite what I had read about in books. Learning about working together and teaching each other and learning from this wonderful gift – seeing Blaine was never a chore, always a blessing. To be able to learn firsthand, so much from someone so selfless was an experience I will always cherish. I am thankful.’

‘The first moment. In silent darkness. They wait. Knowledge and power. Their intent. Courage and generosity. Their gift. They transcend and overwhelm. A small moment, a hesitation? Can we match their courage? We dare not fail. Their courage becomes. Ours. Their generosity. We accept graciously and with Respect. Knowledge and power. We achieve. For without them. We would sit in silent darkness.’