This week while I was studying a lecture about the four types of tissue in Medical Cell Biology, (which are epithelial, connective, muscle, and neural or nerves) I found myself making simple connections between the types of tissues without realizing it. This may not seem like a big deal to anyone but to me it means that my techniques for learning that I’ve been trying are working and my brain is, in a way, adapting to medical school! I was thinking that the nervous tissue really has no purpose without the epithelial and muscle tissue and the muscle tissue is worthless and atrophies typically without neural tissue. That’s why when you see someone who has been paralyzed from the waist down, they typically have very little, or no muscle mass in their legs. On a related note, peripheral neuropathy can sometimes have a similar effect! When certain muscles in the foot aren’t functioning because nerves are losing function, those muscles tend to atrophy which can lead to more issues other than burning, numbness and tingling. The human body is INCREDIBLE and love making all of these connections, not just within one class but between all of my classes and my growing general knowledge of the human body. I know this skill will help me to improve as a student and later as a physician.
This week was spent in Colorado with family. It was a much need break from classes for a few days but now we are right back at it on Monday with a fully scheduled week. We finished the exams for Principles and Practices of Podiatric Medicine but this week we are going to have case presentations from the faculty. There will be multiple presentations throughout the week and I’m super excited for all of them! It’s going to be a great week!
In Colorado, I enjoyed golfing and fishing with my brother and dad, and we got to help my sister move. It sure is nice to spend time with family as those days are getting fewer and fewer for me right now. I hope everyone is having a good week and are enjoying the nice fall weather!
Levi Smith, PMAC & Podiatric Medical Student @ DMU
