First-Place Winner: TMA Excellence in Science Teaching
Awards
Bobby Pierce
Biology/Anatomy & Physiology Teacher
Whitney High School
Laparoscopy Tissue Biopsy
Sample Lesson
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this project the student will be able to:
-
Describe the anatomy and physiology of a selected
organ
-
Identify the major artery and vein that delivers blood to
and from the selected organ
-
Identify the major nerve that supplies neural information
to the selected organ
-
Construct an accurate scaled 3D model of a selected
organ
-
Identify and describe the tissue types that form the
selected organ
-
Explain the location of the organ in the human body using
medical terminology
-
Demonstrate proper technique using a laparoscope and
endoscopic surgical equipment
Materials Used
-
Laparoscope & Television
-
Endoscopic surgical equipment (endodissector and
endoscissors)
-
Shoe box
-
Soft sponge
-
Pipe Cleaners (Red, Blue, and Yellow)
-
Pink Construction Paper
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Hot glue gun, tape, scissors
-
College Anatomy & Physiology texts
-
Computer with Internet
Methods of Implementation
To promote student interest in anatomy & physiology this
activity is one of the first projects at the start of the school
year in August. I developed this project so students know
right from the start that this class will be something special and
interesting. After a couple of days of motivational
activities students divide into teams of 3 each to begin.
After students are in groups I announce the organs that will be
used for the surgery project. The organs are the stomach,
left lung, liver, pancreas, ascending colon, descending colon, and
right kidney. I have each organ written on an index card and
will walk around to each group and one member from each team will
randomly select an organ card.
The following information is what the students must do:
-
Using texts and the internet determine the size and shape
of the organ
-
Find the function or functions of the organ
-
Find the name of the major artery that supplies blood to
the organ
-
Find the name of the major vein that drains blood from the
organ
-
Find the name of the major nerve that supplies information
to the organ
-
Find the name of the tissue types that form the
organ
-
Describe the location of the organ using medical
terminology
-
Construct a scaled 3D model of the organ using a soft
sponge and attach inside a shoe box lined with pink
construction paper to represent a body cavity
-
Accurately place the artery (red pipe cleaner), vein (blue
pipe cleaner), and nerve (yellow pipe cleaner) to the
organ
-
Word process a detailed report of the required findings of
the organ (the source for each finding must be
documented)
-
Perform a successful tissue biopsy using a laparoscope and
endoscopic surgical equipment
Laparoscopy Tissue Biopsy Surgery
With my close association with the University of Texas
Southwestern Medical Center I asked the director of the Science
Teachers Access to Resources at Southwestern (STARS) program if it
was possible if UT could loan us a laparoscope and endoscopic
surgical equipment. I was trained using this equipment during
a summer research internship for teachers at Southwestern and
thought this would be a very innovative way to begin my
anatomy/physiology class. UT Southwestern was gracious to
loan us the equipment and this project is quite popular now.
Before the students use the equipment I demonstrate proper
technique and procedures. While surgery teams are researching
and constructing their organs, each team practices using the
equipment in a practice shoe box.
I poke holes in the top of the lid where the camera is inserted
and have various things inside the box that students must find and
move using the endodissectors. It is amazing to see a junior
or senior in high school demonstrating laparoscopy skills. To
students today it is just like playing a video game! Each
group will be allowed to practice for about 30 minutes. On
the day of the actual surgery, each student group will have to cut
a small designated area off their sponge organ. Before the
surgery I will take a marker and make a small mark (about the size
of a marble) somewhere on their sponge organ. This mark will
represent a possible growing cancer. I will also place 4
holes into the top of the patient (shoe box lid) for the camera and
instrument entrance. Students will be dressed in full
surgical gear from head to toe donated by a local hospital.
After I have the patient box prepared I hand the camera to one
student and the operation begins. There are enough
anesthetics to last for 15 minutes only! The camera operator
must locate the abnormal growth (marked area) and be careful not to
damage any blood vessels or nerves. Once the growth is found
the student with the endodissector moves in to clamp the tissue
area. The other student with the endoscissors moves in to cut
out the marked area. Once the tissue is cut out the
endodissector will remove the abnormal tissue and the surgery is
complete. All the other surgical teams watch in anticipation
for their turn. The room has the tension of an actual surgery
because we are watching their every move on the TV monitor.
Evaluation
-
Students will receive a total of 50 points for the word
processed report of all the required organ findings
-
Students will receive a total of 25 points for the
accuracy & quality of the 3D organ built in a shoe
box
-
Students will receive a total of 25 points for
demonstrating proper surgical technique using the laparoscope
and endoscopic surgical equipment
Method employs creative/innovative approach
Instead of lecturing or using worksheets, students start off the
year with an exciting and new project (not many high school
students have ever used a laparoscope!) which promotes research
skills, higher level reading, teamwork, artistic skills, language
skills, and an appreciation for the skills of a surgeon.
Lesson requires students to use higher order thinking and
problem solving skills
After the surgical teams are formed and the organ has been
chosen the teams are on their own. They will have to depend
on each other to be successful. Students will have to review
information from
Gray's Anatomy
to various medical web sites to find the required
information. Students will have to think in researching the
information and forming a quality research paper. Students
will have to demonstrate problem solving skills when they have to
perform the tissue biopsy surgery.
Lesson actively engages students
This is a complex project to begin the year. Students are
so excited with this I just sit back and assist when needed and
watch them work and learn. Every student will be actively
engaged throughout this entire project.
Lesson relates to objectives and draws reasonable
conclusions
This project correlates to the Texas Essential Knowledge and
Skills (TEKS) Anatomy & Physiology of Human System Objectives
(Chapter 121):
-
Objective 1A - demonstrate safe lab practices
-
Objective 2A - implement investigative procedures
-
Objective 10A - compare anatomical structures to
physiological functions
-
Objective 10C - research technological advances in
treatment of disorders
Lesson stimulates student interest
This projects uniqueness and newness to the students builds a
high level of interest and major satisfaction when it is
complete. I started this project three years ago and some
people enroll in my class just for this project and others like
it. Students enjoy it that much. This sets the tone for
a very successful year. Our project was so successful that
WFAA Television (ABC-Dallas) sent out a news crew to do a story
about it.
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