School visit by the 4th-grade classes of Domgrundschule
How does our digestive system actually work? Which organs are involved? And why do we harbor trillions of bacteria in our gut? Classes 4a and 4b from Domgrundschule explored these questions during their visit to the Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Infectious Diseases at Magdeburg University Hospital. The goal of the visit was to explain to the students the path food takes through the body in an understandable way and to give them an insight into the medical possibilities for visualizing these processes.
Why does the way to the heart go through the stomach? What could be weighing heavily on the stomach? And why isn’t it actually called the “small (intestine) and large (intestine)”? The visit began for each group with these questions and an exploration of the basic functions of our digestive organs—from the oral cavity to the rectum.
Afterward, the students moved through several stations in small groups, each illustrating different aspects of digestion and possible examination methods.
At one station, using ultrasound, the students collectively examined their own bodies to view the tongue, salivary glands, stomach, small and large intestines, as well as the liver and pancreas.
Photo: Visit to the Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Infectious Diseases at Magdeburg University Medical Center. Photographer: Melitta Schubert / UMMD
Another station focused in detail on the digestive organs. Under the microscope, the students, together with colleagues from the local Department of Pathology, examined the fine structure of the various digestive organs.
At a third station, the children used silicone models and visual aids to learn which parts of the digestive tract can be examined with endoscopes and what the digestive tract looks like from the inside. It was also demonstrated that our digestive tract is home to a veritable zoo of Bacteria, and the students were able to see for themselves in the Endoscopy department that every effort is made to rid the equipment of our microbes after use.
Dynamic page content: Content gallery School visit to the KGHI, client ummd
Another special highlight was a seven-meter-long diagram of the intestine, which vividly illustrated just how long the human intestine actually is. Here, the students were able to test their newly acquired knowledge about digestion together with a short quiz.
In the end, there were beaming faces among everyone involved!
Schools wishing to organize a similar event for grades 4 through 12 can contact the office of the Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Infectious Diseases directly: kghi@med.ovgu.de | Tel.: 0391/67-13100.