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For my Computer Applications class, we were given the challenging task of making a website, which required us to learn HTML and CSS coding. My site will function primarily to showcase my portfolio. Feel free to peruse my site at: http://www2.uic.edu/~lkoval2/!

The assignment for this piece was to place two organs in correct anatomical position. After sketching my my housemate, Chris, used surface landmarks (such as the umbilicus, the sternal notch, the deltopectoral groove, etc.) to determine where to draw his skeleton. I then used the relationship between the bones and the figure to figure our where to place his organs.

I found this cool t-shirt, designed by Haddicts, on Threadless.

With the help of GoodSearch, I found this video at voicedoctor.net. For anatomy students seeking to understand how the Larynx (an exciting and complex organ!) produces sound, I found this site to be helpful and fun!

Ever think you could search the Internet and raise money for your favorite charity?!  By using GoodSearch, you to do just that! So, next time you’re trying to figure out where the Left Recurrent Larygeal nerve changes its name to the Inferior Laryngeal nerve or want to find videos of vocal cords vibrating, try using this alternative search engine!

Laryn J. Kovalik ©2009

For our Anatomical Visualization class, we were given the task of drawing an anomalous left hepatic vein opening independently into the right atrium. Typically, the left hepatic vein courses through the left lobe of the liver and opens directly into the inferior vena cava IVC). In this drawing, IVC, the great cardiac vein, the middle vein, and the posterior vein of the left ventricle also open independently into the same atrium.

While I was working for Catholic Charities’ Refugee Program in Phoenix, I started an art class for some of the refugee children. Many refugees experience a great deal of trauma even before entering their new host country, and it is not easy to find healing without being able to share one’s experience due to the language barrier.

The main focus of the art class was to have fun! In the pieces below, the children drew pictures of what reminded them of their homes in their former countries.

Prithibi, 12 years old, from Bhutan

Prithibi is a sixth grader from Bhutan. When asked about his experience in the refugee camp, he chose to first draw his family’s home in Bhutan (upper left-hand corner). Prithibi uses simple figures to show his family’s journey to Nepal, their host country. Prithibi drew his parents and other family members walking on a road to the Nepalese camp.

Prithibi and his three siblings were born in Nepal. He remembers the Nepalese mountains, the refugee huts, and most importantly, the water tap, which was the only water supply for the whole camp. Jigme Singay Wangchuk, the king of Bhutan (upper right-hand corner) and his school in the camp (lower left-hand corner) are depicted as well. Prithibi loves to learn and is very happy attending school in the United States.

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Hsa Nel is an active fifth grader from Burma. He comes from a family of artists. He has a brother named Eh Glae and twin siblings, Yo Nay and Taw Nay. He enjoys playing volleyball, soccer (especially scoring goals!), and drawing.

This artwork is Hsa Nel’s memory of his home in Burma. We can see coconut trees, the mountains, his home, and his father fishing in the river. In the refugee camp, Has Nel says that his family was very poor and life was hard. He is happy to be in the United States because there is a roof to protect his family and himself from the rain.

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Nafisa, 13 years old, from Afghanistan

Nafisa is a seventh grader from Afghanistan. She loves to read and is very creative. Nafisa and her sisters are very happy to go to school in the United States because they did not have the opportunity to receive an education in their country. Nafisa enjoys going to school here with children from other countries; in addition to learning English, she is learning Arabic and Spanish.

Nafisa notes that while she and her family were living in Afghanistan, they always had relatives visiting their house. Nafisa chose to draw a traditional Afghani dress because she wanted to reveal how differently women dress in the United States. When Nafisa grows up, she wants to be a fashion designer.

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Nyaduel, 5 years old, from Sudan

Nyaduel is from Sudan and has seven sisters: Nyarout, Tibisa, Nyajuok, Nyakuoth, Nyaruon, Nyadiew, and Nyahon. She is in kindergarten, and she spends her time drawing and reading library books.

When asked about what reminded her of life in Sudan, chose a different approach than simply drawing her home; Nyaduel drew the moon, a star, and the sun to symbolize Sudan. She used to rise with the sun and go to sleep when the sun set. Nyaduel said that she “can’t tell the difference between the night and the day here. In Africa, you know it’s night when you see the moon and the stars.” The sun was the light during the day and unlike in America, the only the moon and the stars provided light at night.

Nyaduel pointed out that another difference between living in Africa and the United States is that here her family cooks inside. In Sudan, her mom used to walk very far to get wood for the cooking fire. Nyaduel is very happy to be in the United States because she has shoes to wear, food to eat, and loves going to school.

Regardless if a biomedical visualization student ultimately concentrates on 3-D animation or anaplastology, every student needs to be able to creatively picture human anatomy. In our anatomical visualization class, one of our assignments was to not only draw the knee joint, but to demonstrate the “crossing nature” of the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments (ACL and PCL, respectively).

I first sketched from a model knee joint, and then I scanned and opened my drawing into Illustrator. Using this program, I was able to create a box around the knee joint so that I could better visualize it in 2-point perspective. It was necessary to find the two vanishing points and horizon line in order to draw the box.

To visualize the ACL and PCL, I utilized a program called Osirix. This program allowed me to view MRIs of the knee joint in transverse, coronal, or sagittal planes. In the drawing above, the sagittal section from the MRI has been transformed in Photoshop so that it too is in the same perspective as the sketch knee joint.

…More postings to follow when the drawing is complete!