From sheep brains to fetal pigs, it’s not uncommon for dissections to take place in physiology and biology classrooms. Students are taught to cut through tissue and cartilage to gain a deeper understanding of how the human body works. But aside from dissections, MVHS’ Future Practicing Physicians Network takes an opportunity to teach students to do the exact opposite — to stitch tissue back together. On Feb. 26, FPPN officers held a suturing lab where they taught students how to do a simple interrupted suture. Look through the gifs below to catch a glimpse of the atmosphere in B103 during the lab.

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FPPN officers create an incision in each piece of chicken breast using a scalpel and distribute them to pairs of students.

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An introduction to suturing video plays in the background as students occasionally stop what they are doing to look up for further instruction. The video shows how to pull the needle through the tissue and correctly tie a square knot.

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Director of medical outreach and senior Jason Shen guides students through tying the final knot of the simple interrupted suture.

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An FPPN member successfully completes pulling the prolene — a type of suture — across the incision.

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Students encourage each other as they take turns attempting the suture.