In this episode, Dr. Wolfe describes the process of dissecting a human cadaver in Gross Anatomy class, touching on historical elements and personal experience. This the the first part of a 2 part discussion on The Substance of Death: the varied conditions and states of the dead body. The Gross Anatomy cadaver is considered the first patient a medical student has, and in some cases is the first experience a trainee has with death. The listener will have a baseline with which to compare eventual discussion of autopsied bodies.