Memorizing nerve roots

[Smokemont]

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Pretty sure I'm not going to be memorizing nerves and muscles for the next 7 years but I'm no wizened MS3 or whatever you are.

I was referring to "playing the game" - which you will be doing for the next 7 years

 

[xffan624]

Pretty sure I'm not going to be memorizing nerves and muscles for the next 7 years but I'm no wizened MS3 or whatever you are.

Don't worry there's plenty of other inane stuff with limited clinical value to memorize.

 

[OSUkid]

It really is

Is there some sort of a trick for memorizing nerve roots? I can get down the nerves e.g. long head of biceps is innervated by musculocutaneous nerve, but there's no way I can remember the nerve roots (C5-6) for the hundreds of muscles I have to know for the exam. Any tips, other than memorizing/flash cards until my eyes bleed?

It really isnt hard, if you know the muscles and their location nerve innervation is fairly easy. Just know the brachial plexus drawing, and you know what bifurcates and what terminal and non terminal branches come off. For example most of the poster arm is radial n., and if you know your bones you would think poster radial groove on humerous, so it sticks with you.You know ulnar nerve innervetes medial muscles because ulnar is medial, you would know anteior forearm muscles that are lateral would be median nerve, you would know all posteior forearm muscles are usually radial. Also everything posterior leg is tibial. It really is not hard unless you just study nerves without understanding bones and muscles. Just a top study your bones and muscles and locations and the rest just falls in. I Got an A in anatomy.

 

[deleted500612]

Is there some sort of a trick for memorizing nerve roots? I can get down the nerves e.g. long head of biceps is innervated by musculocutaneous nerve, but there's no way I can remember the nerve roots (C5-6) for the hundreds of muscles I have to know for the exam. Any tips, other than memorizing/flash cards until my eyes bleed?

It really isnt hard, if you know the muscles and their location nerve innervation is fairly easy. Just know the brachial plexus drawing, and you know what bifurcates and what terminal and non terminal branches come off. For example most of the poster arm is radial n., and if you know your bones you would think poster radial groove on humerous, so it sticks with you.You know ulnar nerve innervetes medial muscles because ulnar is medial, you would know anteior forearm muscles that are lateral would be median nerve, you would know all posteior forearm muscles are usually radial. Also everything posterior leg is tibial. It really is not hard unless you just study nerves without understanding bones and muscles. Just a top study your bones and muscles and locations and the rest just falls in. I Got an A in anatomy.

He's not talking about nerve innervation for muscles, he said he already has those memorized. He's talking about which nerve roots each peripheral nerve arises from. Really no way to do it other than brute force memorization imo

I dont agree with people saying you can do it by drawing out a diagram of the brachial plexus and intuitively following each path backwards to determine nerve roots, as this will not even give you a correct answer all the time (example axillary n. is C5-C6, but following path backwards tells you that C5-T1 all contribute).

 

[OSUkid]

There's exceptions you memorize there's only like 3 , and their easy

 

[Moose A Moose]

There's exceptions you memorize there's only like 3 , and their easy

Easier than their, they're and there?

 

[Meh.meh]

Pretty sure I'm not going to be memorizing nerves and muscles for the next 7 years but I'm no wizened MS3 or whatever you are.

I'm having a really, really tough time believing this isn't a troll post.

What's your definition of high yield?

Things that are going to show up in other classes?
Things that are going to be on the boards?
Things that have clinical relevance and use?

Because the brachial plexus is all three. You absolutely need to know it. Don't memorize each muscle, memorize the nerves that supply each compartment, know what compartment each muscle is in.

MC-front part of humerus
Radial: triceps and wrist extensors (back of forearm)
median: wrist flexors (front forearm) and some hand muscles (LOAF)
ulnar: most hand muscles, the named flexor, and half of profundus

Memorize the other ones on the brachial plexus, and know the weird exceptions like trapezius.
It's not that hard. If you forget one or two, nbd. But at least know the general picture.

You wanna do EM? You at least need to get an average board score. I guarantee you an average student will know the brachial plexus cold.

Other helpful stuff: origin of extensors tends to be lateral side. Origin of flexors tends to be medial.

 

[KinasePro]

No one in the hospital knows anatomy like MD's (radiologists and surgeons in particular). It's one of the reasons we're respected by other providers. Take some pride in your profession.

Also, the truth is that essentially all anatomy is clinically relevant. You'll be glad you memorized those nerve roots when you see them on step 1. And when you get pimped on them during your neurology and surgery clerkships.

 

[circulus vitios]

I'm having a really, really tough time believing this isn't a troll post.

What's your definition of high yield?

Things that are going to show up in other classes?
Things that are going to be on the boards?
Things that have clinical relevance and use?

Because the brachial plexus is all three. You absolutely need to know it. Don't memorize each muscle, memorize the nerves that supply each compartment, know what compartment each muscle is in.

MC-front part of humerus
Radial: triceps and wrist extensors (back of forearm)
median: wrist flexors (front forearm) and some hand muscles (LOAF)
ulnar: most hand muscles, the named flexor, and half of profundus

Memorize the other ones on the brachial plexus, and know the weird exceptions like trapezius.
It's not that hard. If you forget one or two, nbd. But at least know the general picture.

You wanna do EM? You at least need to get an average board score. I guarantee you an average student will know the brachial plexus cold.

Other helpful stuff: origin of extensors tends to be lateral side. Origin of flexors tends to be medial.

I can draw the brachial plexus from memory and I know the nerves of each muscle. I have to know the nerve roots for each muscle, which is where I'm having trouble.

 

[Meh.meh]

I can draw the brachial plexus from memory and I know the nerves of each muscle. I have to know the nerve roots for each muscle, which is where I'm having trouble.

If you know the nerves, and you know the plexus, you essentially know the roots. Once again, that's important information. It ties into your neuro exam, and helps you with understanding cervical disc herniation.

The nerve roots are important, and tested. They'll also be tested on lower limb (to a lesser extent). The number you need to know goes down after anatomy though, so I wouldn't freak if you don't know it. I would still try to learn it though, you'll save yourself pain later.

 

[WillburCobb]

Easy mnemonic for brachial plexus. Your fingers are the roots, thumb=C5, pinky=T1. Hold up the fingers as you recite this..

Three musketeers (thumb, index, and middle= musculoskeletal) assassinated (make a gun with thumb and index= axillary) 5 mice (all fingers for median), 5 rats (all fingers for radial) and 2 unicorns (ring and pinky = ulnar).

Fingers correspond to roots for those 5 main ones. The minor nerves coming off I just kept drawing the plexus and memorized the roots.

http://www.stritch.luc.edu/lumen/meded/grossanatomy/2013_2014/revisedbp14/revisedbp14_print.html

Scroll to the section about the 3 musketeers assassinating 5 mice, 5 rats, and 2 unicorns.

I can draw the brachial plexus from memory and I know the nerves of each muscle. I have to know the nerve roots for each muscle, which is where I'm having trouble.

Both @Southplains and I provided the solution to your issue.

 

[circulus vitios]

Both @Southplains and I provided the solution to your issue.

Thanks, but it doesn't help. Radial covers C5-T1, okay. But I need to know that lateral/medial head of triceps is radial nerve C5-7, while brachioradialis is radial nerve C5-6. I have to know the spinal nerves for every muscle we do...

 

[el_duderino]

Are you seriously having this much trouble memorizing nerve roots for a dozen muscles? Get help now before it's too late.

 

[circulus vitios]

Are you seriously having this much trouble memorizing nerve roots for a dozen muscles? Get help now before it's too late.

I've got 90% of it down, I was just wondering if there was a trick or anything to learning it. Apparently not.

 

[tvelocity514]

Honestly, notecards are the best for learning nerve roots and small pieces of information like this. It helped me get a good grade when I went through it. It really is just brute memorization which sucks. A lot of first year is though. I was able to draw the brachial plexus and knew all these nerve roots when I was in Anatomy...not anymore haha. Good luck!

 

[masaraksh]

Are you talking about the brachial plexus?

Edit:
nvm.

 

[CherryRedDracul]

It is when any non-******ed clinician would just look it up rather than try to rely on their memory.

If I had the power to freeze time, this would be awesome. But I don't have that luxury, so I find myself memorizing things.

Knowing the nerves and dermatomes really helped move things along in neuro clinic.

 

[giantswing]

To scare people of course
I also want a giant talking bird, so I can teach her to scream at people when I'm not around

I like you.

 

[Kahreek]

I understand the application of anatomy in dental school, although I don't think they need to memorize everything, (IMO they should really focus on head and neck/ torso- the rest shouldn't really matter) but most of it you guys can forget I'm assuming, with the exception of head and neck, while doctors still, depending on specialty (not including psych), have to remember most of it. Even an opthalmologist, for instance will probably retain a significant amount of that information.

a good psych must have a top notch neurological examination skills and thus neuroanatomical skills to separate psychogenic from neurological problems in conversive syndromes.

 

[TXKnight]

The brachial plexus is not hard to learn...it feels as difficult because it's one more thing of the 3000 other useless anatomy factoids required for any given exam