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Navigating the Study Packet Table of Contents | Overview | Framework | Lesson 1 | Lesson 2 | Lesson 3 | Lesson 4 | Lesson 5 | Lesson 6 | Lesson 7 | Lesson 8 | Lesson 9 | Lesson 10 | Authors/Acknowledgements | Appendix A | Appendix B | Appendix C | Appendix D | Appendix E | Appendix F | Download PDF Version The Table of Contents has longer descriptions of these links.

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Lesson 4: Using Classifiers for Anatomical Structures

Objectives: At the end of the lesson, you will be able to:

• Identify the size and shape of the anatomical structures,
• Show the size and shape of each organ structure by the use of a classifier, and
• Use the classifiers to show the proximity of one anatomical structure to another anatomical structure.

Step 1: Describing Shapes and Sizes

Anatomical structures have defined shapes and sizes. Classifiers lend themselves beautifully to this purpose.

Activity:

Using your drawings from Lesson 2, look at each anatomical structure.

• Is the shape round? Oval? Tubular? Oblong?
• Is the size like that of a pea? A fist? A pencil?…

Step 2: Application of Classifiers

Having considered the size and shape of the anatomical structures, start applying classifiers to them.

Activity:

Using the description on the previous activity, consider the description and try different classifiers to accurately portray the anatomical structure. Ask Deaf people how they would use a classifier to show the anatomical structure. Consider the following handshapes:

• Fist (S)

• Y

• 3

• B

Example: When needing to interpret information about an episiotomy (the cutting of the skin from the back of the vagina towards the anus to enlarge the vaginal opening during childbirth), try using the handshape ‘3’. Make a ‘3’ with your non-dominant hand and point it towards the floor. Explain that your thumb is the urethral opening, your first finger the vaginal opening and your pointer finger is the anus. Keeping the ‘3’ pointed towards the floor, demonstrate an incision being made from the back of the vagina towards the anus. Clear, isn’t it!?

Step 3: Use Classifiers to Show Proximity

Visualize yourself interpreting in an OB/Gyn setting. The physician is explaining to the Deaf patient how the uterus pushes down on the bladder during pregnancy and where an episiotomy is performed. Realizing you have a good understanding of classifiers, you feel prepared to successfully interpret the information.

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Activity: Practice Interpreting the Following Text

Doctor: Hello Ms. Smith. You are past your first trimester and will now be entering your second and third trimesters. You will be experiencing an increased sense of needing to go to the bathroom. This is due to the positioning of the uterus and bladder. Inside your abdomen, your uterus is positioned above your bladder. As the baby grows in the uterus, there is pressure put on the bladder. Because of the pressure, you will have to empty your bladder more often.

You also asked about an episiotomy. During childbirth, the opening of the vagina gets stretched. To prevent the skin from tearing, which could cause nerve damage, the doctor may elect to perform an episiotomy. The episiotomy is a small cut from the vaginal opening towards the anus. After the baby is born, the cut will be stitched. The stitches will be removed at a later date in a doctor’s office.

Listen to audio reading of this text for interpreting.

This text has an added pause between the paragraphs to allow for more processing time.

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