Important anatomy for anesthesiology

[badasshairday]

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I'm in my first year of medical school and have an early interest in anesthesiology. Anatomy has been very interesting and I was wondering what parts of anatomy are particularly important for a good anesthesiologist to know. I know there is the L4 vertebrae which is lined up with the crests of the ilieum for epidurals... What else is there?

 

[rsgillmd]

I'm in my first year of medical school and have an early interest in anesthesiology. Anatomy has been very interesting and I was wondering what parts of anatomy are particularly important for a good anesthesiologist to know. I know there is the L4 vertebrae which is lined up with the crests of the ilieum for epidurals... What else is there?

Brachial plexus and location/supply of peripheral nerves for blocks (UE and LE mainly).

Location of stellate ganglion for a block.

Path of laryngeal branches of vagus nerve for blocks.

Dermatomes.

Location of cardioaccelerator fibers.

Location of celiac plexus for blocks.

Anatomy of spine so midline and paravertebral approches make sense to you.

Anatomy/nerve supply of the airway in general for intubation.

Anatomy of the mainstem bronchi and their divisions for double lumen tubes.

Location of femoral artery, femoral vein, radial artery, internal jugular vein, subclavian vein and the structures in their vicinity when you are planning to cannulate these vessels.

This is the most common stuff that pops up on the tests as well as day to day use. I'm sure the list can go on and on.

For your tests you will have to know the nitty gritty details. For real life you will quickly come to know what's important when you use it.

 

[treasurefull2]

Just study for your class, in my opinion, that will more than cover what you need to know for anesthesia... Anything that needs additional focus, you will get in residency...

Anyway you'll forget 95% of what you study in 1st year anatomy by the end of med school...

 

[badasshairday]

Just study for your class, in my opinion, that will more than cover what you need to know for anesthesia... Anything that needs additional focus, you will get in residency...

True, I just wanted to get a feel for what is of particular importance to anesthesiologists. rsgillmd, thanks for the input.

 

[lfesiam]

True, I just wanted to get a feel for what is of particular importance to anesthesiologists. rsgillmd, thanks for the input.

or you can draw the anatomy of the neck for fun like I did during MS1. aaahhh... good old MS1 year...was it just yesterday?
hmmm...if I have to pick the most important structures.....it would be the vocal cords.

 

[treasurefull2]

Just study the female anatomy, cuz you'll be getting alot of chicks once you're an anesthesiolgists...

 

[lfesiam]

or you can draw the anatomy of the neck for fun like I did during MS1. aaahhh... good old MS1 year...was it just yesterday?
hmmm...if I have to pick the most important structures.....it would be the vocal cords.

here you go bud. found some on the net.

I think as a Medstudent, intubation is a priceless skill to have under your belt. Spend the summer working part-time (i recommend jobs with tips..and start a ROTH IRA right away = invest in SPY or QQQQ), backpack europe for 2 weeks... and lastly if you have time left....hang out at your anesthesiology department, show enough face time and i'm sure they'll walk you through intubation.

upside down view from pic above:

Now, if you are gung-ho about anesthesia as an MS1 taking anatomy......you can buy cheap laryngoscopes on ebay (either mac or miller): http://shop.ebay.com/items/_W0QQ_fr...e-All-Categories&_fromfsb=&_trksid=m270.l1311

Use it during after hours in your anatomy lab or when you are dissecting the neck region....if you can find a really long BIG GUP straw from 7-11...try putting it through the vocal cord.

 

[Mac Six]

Brachial plexus and location/supply of peripheral nerves for blocks (UE and LE mainly).

Location of stellate ganglion for a block.

Path of laryngeal branches of vagus nerve for blocks.

Dermatomes.

Location of cardioaccelerator fibers.

Location of celiac plexus for blocks.

Anatomy of spine so midline and paravertebral approches make sense to you.

Anatomy/nerve supply of the airway in general for intubation.

Anatomy of the mainstem bronchi and their divisions for double lumen tubes.

Location of femoral artery, femoral vein, radial artery, internal jugular vein, subclavian vein and the structures in their vicinity when you are planning to cannulate these vessels.

This is the most common stuff that pops up on the tests as well as day to day use. I'm sure the list can go on and on.

For your tests you will have to know the nitty gritty details. For real life you will quickly come to know what's important when you use it.

Fantastic list above: If you have time, don't forget to add in the sciatic nerve as it splits into the common peroneal n. and tibial n., the femoral nerve, and the nerves required for ankle/foot blocks. Oh, and if you like peds anesthesia, find the post tibial artery (occaisionally cannulated for a-lines) and the saphenous vein for blind sticks/big bore lines. Have fun. I look back fondly on my anatomy lab year.