best way to study for anatomy?

[osumc2014]

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Just wondering, first time taking an anatomy class, is it better to do like flash cards, or do drawings or who knows what? I am just wondering cause our teacher only goes over the main parts and goes you need to know the rest

 

[armybound]

the best answer is "whatever works best for you."

a lot of my classmates use Netter's flash cards religiously. I used my syllabus first, Essential Clinical Anatomy second, and Rohen's third. Of course there's also the cadaver and Grant's, but I found that less useful.

our professors say drawing it out is the best way to put it into memory, but I get by fine without it, though I do mentally visualize it.

 

[TheDuder]

the best answer is "whatever works best for you."

a lot of my classmates use Netter's flash cards religiously. I used my syllabus first, Essential Clinical Anatomy second, and Rohen's third. Of course there's also the cadaver and Grant's, but I found that less useful.

our professors say drawing it out is the best way to put it into memory, but I get by fine without it, though I do mentally visualize it.

I second this. Whatever works (if that isn't totally frickin' obvious). For me, flashcards are a waste of time. The time I spend creating them could be better used just reading the material over and over and over. Find what works for you and stick to that. I would study the drawing or photo, then close my eyes and try to recreate the image/labels in my head, and immediately open my eyes and quiz myself. Repeat as necessary.

 

[osumc2014]

I second this. Whatever works (if that isn't totally frickin' obvious). For me, flashcards are a waste of time. The time I spend creating them could be better used just reading the material over and over and over. Find what works for you and stick to that. I would study the drawing or photo, then close my eyes and try to recreate the image/labels in my head, and immediately open my eyes and quiz myself. Repeat as necessary.

See i know the whatever works for you thing, but i've never studied something that required so much visualization and physical touch so it's a bit difficult coming up with ideas, I usually just write stuff down many times until i get it...I figured that d be a tad difficult with all the anatomical structures.

 

[armybound]

so draw it out, then. if writing works for you, write. write down the names of the muscles and the names of the nerves that go to them, their origins & insertions, actions, etc. (or whatever you're being asked to do)

is there a cadaver lab with this course? what are you learning? we didn't have a human anatomy course at my undergrad.

 

[osumc2014]

so draw it out, then. if writing works for you, write. write down the names of the muscles and the names of the nerves that go to them, their origins & insertions, actions, etc. (or whatever you're being asked to do)

is there a cadaver lab with this course? what are you learning? we didn't have a human anatomy course at my undergrad.

Ok thanks, that seems a bit time consuming but ill try it out...we have a cadaver lab, but it's been prosected

 

[rockaction]

Get a good atlas for yourself. I recommend either Gray's or Netter's. Those things have pictures of everything from every angle ever, with MRIs, X-rays, and cross-sections. When I took my anatomy course last year in undergrad, I mostly used my Gray's atlas.

Other stuff to take advantage of would be any models, skeletons, or casts of bones that you would have in your anatomy lab. My professor used all of the models in our lab on the practicals (as well as drawings, films, and cadavers) so it was especially advantageous for us to look at those. But even if you weren't being tested on the models it was one of the best ways for me to integrate all of my knowledge. To touch and explore the actual objects is the best way to get it down, in my opinion. Because once you have a good grasp of the bones and markings you understand better the interactions that the muscles have with them (then ultimately the nerves).

I didn't get flashcards but I could see how they would be useful. I just used my atlas instead. As far as drawing goes...that never occurred to me as a good option, so I can't really comment on it. I know some fellow students who would spend forever drawing a scapula when they could have gone to the lab and held one and probably would have been better off.

 

[CoolWhipp]

For bones, touch the part of the body everyone you talk about it or study about it. Bones are easy though, and so are muscles.

Physiology aspect of anatomy is going to be rote memorization. Use your skills from biochem or whatever.

 

[greatnt249]

the best answer is "whatever works best for you."

👍

 

[tuoniz]

Just wondering, first time taking an anatomy class, is it better to do like flash cards, or do drawings or who knows what? I am just wondering cause our teacher only goes over the main parts and goes you need to know the rest

IMO you need to figure out how you learn. Once you figure out how you learn you're on the right path. For me it took acronyms and making weird sounds associated with movements... for example buccal I would flare my cheeks and say it loudly so that wind would pass through my cheeks... I never forgot that it meant dealing with the cheeks.

 

[Sammich117]

There are anatomy coloring books available (sounds silly) that really help. I used one for mine for areas that were tricky. The time it takes you to color in, plus having a color coded reference is really good reinforcement.