Master of Science in Anatomy

The Master of Science in Anatomy degree is intended to prepare students for doctoral programs and continuing careers in higher education. This unique program trains the next generation of anatomists.

Length:

36 credit hours or two academic years

Curriculum:

• Balanced basic curriculum—strong preparation in anatomy sub-disciplines:
  • gross anatomy
  • neuroscience
  • microanatomy
  • development
  • biomechanics—unique!
• Practical experience teaching anatomy:
  • Assistantship—stipend/tuition waiver
  • One-year minimum
• Discussion of issues in college teaching

Our graduates are often sought for their knowledge of the human body and ability to teach.

• The thesis-based curriculum develops:
  • an attitude of research/scholarship
  • a habit of critical as well as scientific thinking

The strength of our program—a research curriculum—offering students a balance of classes and experiences that prepare them for a productive lifetime of scientific discovery. It provides:

• Fundamental anatomy research tools
• Practical experience with standard methods
• Instruction in theory—unique!

Graduate students learn to apply advanced research tools, solve problems encountered and modify or adapt methods to new applications.

In keeping with the mission of the Palmer Chiropractic University System, research in the M.S. in Anatomy emphasizes these disciplines:

• Anatomy—normal/abnormal
• Neuroscience—normal/abnormal nerve/brain structure and function
• Biomechanics—muscle-bone-joint function/interaction

Thesis research is conducted in one or a combination of these disciplines. Graduate faculty mentors establish what we call thesis modules, which are specifically designed to answer important research questions and provide a productive experience for a graduate student.

• Basic curriculum—fundamental to all emphases
• Advanced curriculum:
  • gross anatomy (two courses)
  • electives—preparing for research
  • independent study
• Research curriculum:
  • seminars
  • research ethics
  • biostatistics
  • scientific presentations
  • methods:
    • microscopy
    • neuroscience
    • biomechanics
    • independent study

Class size will always be small—less than twelve students—to assure interaction and mastery of the subject and facilitate instruction by discussion.

Financial Aid:

• Teaching assistantship—stipend and tuition waiver
• Independent study

Thesis Modules:

• Emphasis—general morphology, histology, functional anatomy or anthropology
• Inter-disciplinary opportunities
• Collaboration opportunities
• Opportunities to use advanced methods:
  • microscopy (light, electron, confocal)
  • other techniques:
    • morphometry
    • stereology
• Examples:
  • Dental morphology of the prehistoric Etowah population
  • Reduced cranial base height and metabolic stress
  • Enamel hypoplasias in the prehistoric Etowah population
  • Osteophyte formation on specimens with scoliosis
  • Morphology of mental barbels of aquatic turtles
  • Ultrastructure of the mental barbel of aquatic turtles
  • Allometry of third metatarsal length to foot-length in the chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes)

Facilities:

Graduate research laboratories are located in the newly expanded and renovated William and Jo Harris Building, a four-story facility dedicated to the Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research (PCCR), and renovated with funds from a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant.

The Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research is one of only 13 NIH-funded Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) research centers in the nation.

• Shared research facilities:
  • computer lab l seminar and conference rooms
  • research library l graphic production lab
  • protected data storage
• Extensive research laboratories:
  • shared laboratories
    • biomechanics
    • microscopy
    • animal care

The biomechanics laboratories support investigations that are both basic and clinical, based on humans (including cadavers) and animals. Not only do they contain the equipment to support biomechanics and inter-disciplinary research, but the investigators in these laboratories also assist in developing equipment used in the neuroscience laboratories.

The microscopy laboratories support all forms of imaging of specimens, including:

• n Preparatory equipment:
  • oscillating tissue slicer
  • cryotomes
  • ultramicrotomes
  • rotary microtomes
  • sputter coater
  • critical point dryer
  • automated tissue processors
• Light microscopy:
  • research microscopes
  • inverted microscope
  • Nikon Photomicroscope with capacity for:
    • dark-field microscopy u polarized microscopy
    • fluorescence microscopy u digital imaging
    • computerized, stereological analysis
• Electron microscopy (EM):
  • Hitachi, Transmission EM
  • Hitachi, Scanning EM

The animal care laboratories occupy more than 1,000 square feet of environmentally isolated space dedicated to mammalian research.

• The animal care facility and animal use complies with:
  • Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (NIH)
  • United States Department of Agriculture
  • Animal Welfare Act
• Animal care laboratories:
  • animal behavior laboratory
  • veterinary surgical suites

Investigator laboratories:

Individual laboratories support the research program of specific investigators and the graduate students working under their direction.

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