Many people in the UK are unable to identify the location of their major organs, a study suggests.
A team at King’s College London found public understanding of basic anatomy has not improved since a similar survey was conducted 40 years ago.
Less than 50% of the more than 700 people surveyed could correctly place the heart, BMC Family Practice says.
Under one-third could place the lungs in their correct location, but more than 85% got the intestines right.
There are concerns that a poor grasp of anatomy could potentially compromise patient care.
The researchers asked more than 700 people to look at outlines of both a male and female body and identify which of several shaded areas was a particular organ.
Those asked included apparently healthy members of the public and then people undergoing treatment for a problem that affected specific organs.
Even those for whom the organ was particularly relevant often performed poorly – more than half of those with renal problems did not correctly identify the kidneys.
Fewer than 30% of the general population were able to do so.
Last I heard it was something like the total sum of human knowledge was doubling every 40years and the speed of doubling was increasing.
Holy future shlock Alvin Toblin. (whoever?).
So, I think you Sea Lawyer still show a bit of the hubris in thinking you know a lot when the truth is we all are mostly ignorant even of what is actually known and available much less what we don’t even know yet which must approach infinity?
There should be some mechanism to take pride in humility, no one likes being humble for its own qualities. Being honest just doesn’t cut it.
bobbo, I think you mean Alvin Toffler.
lol. I know what I know, and that’s all I’ll take credit for. Everything else is just me being a good sea lawyer
Hmmm, a Kings College London survey… I’d bet that a good deal of the people they asked were not native English speakers.
Note to self: Whenever a medical student comes up and starts asking absurdly stupid questions for their survey, make sure you give them stupid answers.
#14 – bobbo
It is in its case.
I wear my heart on my sleeve!
— or —
I left my heart in San Francisco!
#26, Patso,
I hope you didn’t leave your jacket in San Fransico. Although that would explain why some think you are heartless.
@Bobbo
“Me ape think me am better ape because me ape ask silly question and you ape not know.”
People that are secure in who they are don’t need to waste time thinking about how they are better than other people.
Not everyone is an expert in everything. I’m sure most readers would be able to tell us where we would find and what they are in this list. If you get them all, great. If not you are normal.
binomial
EGR
platelet
mandrill
humbucking pickup
parallax
endometrial tissue
fee simple
castle nut
moog
acappella
ASTM
dork
islets of Langerhans
The point is, if I could fix my EGR I wouldn’t need an auto mechanic. If I knew all about the islets of Langerhans I wouldn’t need a doctor to tell me I’m diabetic. If I could sing accapella, people wouldn’t ask me to sing Far, Far Away anymore.
They asked 700 people who were either healthy or sick. It does not mention they asked ANY health care providers. One assumes those providing health care will actually take some study anatomy at some point in their education. So, how does this “compromise patient care” any more than not knowing where Djibouti is on a map?
#14 Bobbo: Looks about right to me. Alfie is not witless, he’s what we in the medical profession call a half-wit. Pardon the technical jargon.
#29 Fusion: Ahhh, the Islets of Langerhans. The most recent missus and I spent a lovely holiday there soaking up insulin on the beach.
#10 Bobbo: Oh it has a lot to do with getting rid of of things. Things like ugly old red blood cells, mostly, but it also helps to clear out nasty old bacteria that have been pissed on by the immune system. A couple of other things, too. Personally, I hardly ever have a good Chianti with one. A yeasty Shiraz brings out the flavors nicely.
A castle nut is a guy that is interested in medieval architecture and hangs out with the Society for Creative Anachronism at the Renaissance Festival. Right?
Oh! You meant “Castellated” nut. See also “cotter pin”
I guess I better Google “endometrial tissue” and “ASTM” though.
Do I know anything about String Theory? I’m a frayed knot.
I have a vague idea where my pancreas is, but know for sure where my spleen is, as I have to vent it constantly.
#11, Jagermeister
This is Alphie’s brain on religion
Typical bell curve.
This goes under info you don’t need to know until you need it.This is what wikipedia is for.Meanwhile most Americans don’t balance their checkbook,have no idea who their congressman is,don’t vote on a regular basis, don’t read a daily newspaper and generally do not care about anything but their paycheck.The secret of a great life is to create something.To many people’s eyes are open but their souls are dead
What you’re seeing is Gov’t education. Works about as well as Gov’t motors will and gov’t health care will here.
#3 – The states in the middle are where most of the free people live. Who cares about the states on the coasts? Yeah, I know, “flyover states”. Well actually, that’s a good thing: helps keep the riffraff out.
#36, TA,
This is your view on government education.
…were these pre-med students they interviewed, or…doctors?