The Assessment
"You're kidding me, a C, you're giving me a C !".
"You're a 5th year medical student Jake, your anatomy knowledge should be much better than this, I'm really surprised. What did you expect?".
"A pass with honours at least".
"Now who's kidding?"
"OK explain how you came to this conclusion".
"You mean I need to spell it out to you?"
"Yes, as far as I'm aware my knowledge of anatomy is first rate, I've never been pulled up before, I'm intrigued where did I slip up?"
"You entirely missed the right lower phalanges ….."
"But I was thorough in my exploration of the left …….yes?"
"Undoubtedly, nothing on the left foot went untouched".
"So you give me a C because of that?"
"Remember there are five toes, so five points dropped, so that's taken you down to a B already".
"Ah, but it's only one foot, so surely it should be just one point."
"If your hoping to pass your Finals you need to be exact, no skipping over anything, you must be thorough".
"So what else did I miss?"
"Not so much missed as lacking attention to detail".
"What do you mean by that?
"The gluteal area as we both know is often overlooked, but you must palpate the area delicately as it can give surprising results, it definitely should not be omitted".
"I see".
"Lastly, you skimmed over the the left ear lobe; we didn't have this problem with the right".
""The left pinna, if were are going to be correct Dr Lockhart".
"Ok the left pinna and the epidermis immediately below."
"Tut, tut, if your giving the lecture please use the correct terminology…..it's the stratum corneum: the outer layer of the skin".
"Definitely needs more attention, it's a most sensitive area, that requires delicate probing and teasing by both the tongue and mouth".
"Your favourite spot ehh? I thought it was here,….. Or…… down here".
"Oh they most definitely are; but you always give your fullest attention to those area of the anatomy, you always pass with distinction there".
"Does this mean I've failed yet again?……..Are you sure this isn't some ploy to keep me coming back for private tuition?"
"As if I would do such a thing, fail you on purpose."
"Well in the last two weeks I haven't past once, and I've been studying very hard, at least three hours every night".
"Perhaps it's about time we burnt the midnight oil, work through the night, it might help your grades……what do you think?"
"I don't see why not…….practice makes perfect as they say".
"Who knows for all the extra work your doing……..you may go up a grade"
"I expect a pass with honours this time…….nothing less".
"We'll see about that. Lecture 's over, lets get back to the practical".
"Hmmmmmm, that's definitely an A" I giggled.