Real-Life Communication
You have just finished doing an illustration of a human heart for
a renowned heart surgeon. He asked for a two-dimensional diagram of a heart
showing the major tissues. You are also required to send a brief outline of
the illustration.
"Communication skills are essential, since a medical
illustrator deals with such a wide variety of different professionals," says
Jaye Schlesinger. You have to deal with "doctors and surgeons, art directors,
publishing editors, printers, photographers and computer specialists."
The
surgeon wants to explain a heart surgery procedure to a patient. He has asked
that the heart be drawn showing all of the major tissues and the two cavities.
You must write the description of your illustration in a format that is brief
and to the point.
"Doctors and surgeons are extremely busy people,
and contact with them always seems rushed," says Schlesinger. "Therefore,
it's necessary to be brief, concise, organized and to the point."
Here's
the information you have. You need to write this up in a description to give
to the surgeon in 50 words or less.
- Two-dimensional drawing of a human heart
- The heart consists of several layers of a tough muscular wall, the myocardium
- A thin layer of tissue, the pericardium, covers the outside
- The endocardium, another layer of tissue, lines the inside
- The heart cavity is divided down the middle into a right and left heart
-- these are subdivided into two chambers
- The upper chamber of the heart is called the auricle (atrium)
- The lower chamber of the heart is called the ventricle