On hands

It was interesting today. We started dissecting the hand. Up until today the hands were in a special plastic wrapping. It was strange. I can't really describe it, but somehow when we unwrapped the hands and started dissecting, the body suddenlt seemed more...human, if that makes sense. It had more personality, it was more real.

You have to understand that the face and head are still in a special wrapping. We don't get to that section until unit two. Up until now we've only seen the torso and arm.

Anyway, it was interesting to grasp in a not so intellectual sense, the significance of the hand. Our hands are one of only a few body parts that really set us apart from animals. Our upright posture is dictated by our hands.

I don't know, like I said, it's not something I can describe, but it gives me a little more appreciation for Paul Brand and his quest to save the hands of people with leperosy.