The Anatomy Lesson of Nicolaes Tulp

I recently received via E-mail a funny story about "a anatomy lecture by Nicolaes Tulp". The story is something about an attempt by a beer-bamboozled Tulp claiming to tell the future by looking at forearm muscles or something to that effect. I thought some of you may want to know the real story behind "The Anatomy Lesson of Nicolaes Tulp"

(Image source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_Anatomy_Lesson.jpg)

The Anatomy Lesson of Nicolaes Tulp is the title of a painting by the legendary Dutch painter Rembrandt van Rijn. Dr. Nicolaes Tulp was a popular surgeon in the early 1600s in the city of Amsterdam as well as a seasoned politician who in fact served as the Magistrate of this European city. Dr. Tulp was appointed as the Praelector Anatomiae of the Amsterdam Gulid of Surgeons which was something like being named the head of anatomy faculty by the Surgeons association. As the Praelector, he conducted anatomy dissection demonstrations and lectures for the guild members (something like present day Continuing Medical Education – CME programs or Workshops!). Such dissections were performed on male criminals who were hung to death. In 1632, Rembrandt, who was just 26 at the time, was commissioned to paint a group portrait of the Praelector Dr. Tulp and the guild members. This painting is acclaimed as one of his finest works and is an example of the use of a technique called chiaroscuro – the dramatic use of light and shadows.

A Self Portrait - Rembrandt van Rijn (1606 - 1669)

(Image source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Rembrandt_van_rijn-self_portrait.jpg)

Interestingly, this painting is actually one in a series of “Lesson series” of paintings. The others include The Osteology Lesson of Dr Sebastiaen Egbertsz by Thomas de Keyzer (1619) and The Anatomy Lesson of Dr Jan Deijman by Rembrandt van Rijn, 1656.

The Osteology Lesson of Dr Sebastiaen Egbertsz by Thomas de Keyzer (1619)
(Image Source: http://z.about.com/d/arthistory/1/0/u/W/dp_ngl_0707_02.jpg)

The Anatomy Lesson of Dr Jan Deijman by Rembrandt van Rijn, 1656.

(Imagesource: http://www.pandorawordbox.com/image.php?image=011634283)

To read more about these paintings, you could follow the following links

http://www.usyd.edu.au/hps/staff/hans/medart.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicolaes_Tulp

What do these results mean?

Take a look at my previous two posts on the examination results (scroll down). I think it is clear that the Internal assessment and viva marks have been critical for many of the students to pass in Physiology and Biochemistry. IA and viva marks were least in Anatomy and surprisingly performance in the University examination was best in Anatomy. In fact only two candidtaes depended on IA / viva for attaining the pass grade in Anatomy - the rest of you did well enough to pass in theory ON YOUR OWN!
The picture is quite different for Physiology and Biochemistry - 15 candidates passed thanks to IA / viva in Physiology while 17 needed a similar boost in Biochemistry.
So what does this suggest? A more frugal IA in Anantomy motivates students to work harder in that subject while the more liberal marking in Physiology means you take it less seriously?!
This is the way I look at it -

• Most of you are definitely capable of doing well enough in the theory examination PROVIDED you decide to work at it - the Anatomy results prove this
• Higher IA marks lulls you into a false security and is a cause for reduced motivation - the Physiology results suggests this
• Scoring well in Internal assessment tests is critical for a substantial number of students - it decides whether they pass or not
  

Well, do me a favour. If you think that this line of reasoning is right, then share your experience truthfully with your Juniors. Warn them about the complacency that high IA marks breed, stress the advantages of consistent performances in the Internal Assessment tests and most importantly, tell them that its possible to pass / do well in the University exams IF THEY APPLY THEIR MIND TO IT.

And the interesting point...

Now, here is a bit of revealing statistics
What if the performance in the theory paper alone was considered for determining the eligibilty of a candidate for promotion? In other words if Internal assessment was not considered...

No. of students who have scored 50% and above in the theory examination (papers alone):

Anatomy: 81/97 (83.50%)
Physiology: 71/97 (73.20)
Biochemistry: 60/97 (61.86%)
All three subjects: 54/97 (55.70%)

A closer look at the results...

Heres a summary of the I MBBS RGUHS results

Results declared so far - 97/99 (two withheld)
No. of candidates who cleared Anatomy: 83/97 (85.57%)
No. of candidates who cleared Physiology: 86/97 (88.66)
No. of candidates who cleared Biochemistry: 77/97 (79.38%)
Pass in all three subjects: 77/97 (79.38%)

Take a look at the average scores for the class (all marks in %)
(A = Anatomy; P = Physiology; B = Biochemistry)

1. Theory Paper
• A - 57.69%
• P - 54.36%
• B - 50.65%
2. Theory Viva
• A - 67.91%
• P - 70.75%
• B - 73.76
3. IA-Theory
• A - 55.27%
• P- 72.18%
• B- 60.76%
4. Theory-Total
• A - 58.57
• P - 60.11%
• B - 55.75
5. Practical Test
• A - 68.21%
• P - 67.06%
• B - 76.26%
6. IA-Practs
• A - 69.59
• P - 85.31
• B - 80.31
7. Practs-Total
1. A - 68.48
2. P - 70.71
3. B - 77.07
8. Subject-Total
1. A - 61.05
2. P - 62.76
3. B - 61.08

Congratulations!

Hearty congratulations to all of you who have been successful in the examinations. Those of you who didn't needn't lose heart - its but a minor hiccup. Stay positive. Look upon it as a oppurtunity to get a better grip on you basics. there have been so many in the past who have gone on to do great things after an initial failure - so march on...

RGUHS results

Results of the I MBBS Exams held by RGUHS in Aug-Sept 2006 is now available
Click here to reach the RGUHS website for the results

Membrane Physiology Crosswords

As we wait for the madness to die down and classes to resume, here's a crossword on membrane physiology - its simple and a fun way to review the topic. Hope you like it...
Click here to access the crossword.