There are 206 bones in the human body … and students can get hands-on experience learning about all of them through some special resources available at Cooper Library.
There is a full collection of bones available for check out at the services desk on the fourth floor of the library, including a full skeleton and “bone boxes,” which are divided up by section of the body.
The bone collection dates back to 2019. Prior to that, a biology professor loaned a small set of bones to the Libraries for students in biology classes to check out. In 2019, Clemson Libraries worked with students on a capital improvement project to purchase three full sets of bones. The bones have been checked out more than 1,500 times so far this semester and are most popular around mid-terms.
“The ability to have bone boxes on reserve and available to students has extended learning opportunities beyond the classroom and has offered students the opportunity to use hands-on learning to augment their study at their own pace. Having this resource available has not only enhanced learning, it has also improved morale around an admittedly difficult topic,” said John Cummings, principal lecturer of biology, who teaches anatomy and physiology.
The Libraries has plans to purchase three more bone sets and another full skeleton in the near future to help meet the increasing demand for these items.
In addition to the bone collection, the Libraries has other tools and resources for helping students learn anatomy and physiology, such as muscle models, which are also available for check out at the services desk, and the Anatomage Table in the Data Visualization Lab.
The Libraries also provides access to AccessMedicine, which offers study tools to help students with topics related to anatomy and physiology, such as review questions and flashcards, and Anatomy.TV, which offers detailed 3D models of specific areas of the body.