Medical School Culture Influences How Students Think About Gross Anatomy Lab.

The high frequency of the subcode Donor illustrates that when students are describing a body in the lab from which they are dissecting/learning (by definition, a cadaver), they are replacing the term "cadaver" with donor, whether actively or subconsciously. This subcode is an example of how medical school culture and social norms can shape the way that students think and/or talk about the anatomy lab. The use of the word donor, which characteristically is defined as "a person who chooses to make a donation," inherently reminds students that this body was a previously living person; when performing dissections, this reminder could prompt complex emotional responses that may require time and facilitation to process. While the primary function of using the word donor is to show respect, perhaps the secondary function is to enable students to compartmentalize conflicting thoughts and feelings about a single topic, which is a skill that will help them grow and develop as medical students.