Memorizing nerve roots

[circulus vitios]

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?

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[Mad Jack]

We usually only get asked a lot of nerve root questions on muscles during the exams involving that portion of the body, i.e. during the upper extremity exam, you'll get asked about the arm nerve roots, but once you're doing the leg, the only roots you're expected to know are the big ones (ones involved in reflexes and the most critical muscles for movement, such as the deltoid, biceps, traps, etc). We had a ridiculous song and dance routine we made for the nerve roots of the arm that worked pretty well, but I did the leg by brute force.

The arm is (probably, I can't say as I haven't done anything other than the limbs) the worst thing you'll have to deal with nerve root wise, as the leg is very compartmentalized and straightforward. I wish I had better advice, but nerve roots are a bitch for me as well.

 

[circulus vitios]

Well, that sucks. Anatomy blows so hard. I couldn't imagine a dumber way to teach a class: brute force memorization that will be forgotten 1 day after the exam. Medical education is a ****ing joke.

 

[DermViser]

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?

Are you talking about the brachial plexus?

 

[Psai]

Learning nerve roots is low yield

 

[Mad Jack]

Learning nerve roots is low yield

Low yield for the boards, sure. But if 15% of your anatomy exam is nerve roots, it doesn't matter whether it's low yield or not- you'd better learn it if you want a good shot of not remediating anatomy.

 

[circulus vitios]

Are you talking about the brachial plexus?

Yeah.

Learning nerve roots is low yield

It is when any non-******ed clinician would just look it up rather than try to rely on their memory. But I want to pass this godawful class, so I have to play their game.

 

[Mad Jack]

Yeah.

Do you also have to memorize the spinal levels of each individual muscle? If you've just got the plexus to worry about, that's not so bad- just draw it five times a day or so until you know it off the top of your head. But individual muscles... Ugh, there's not a really good way to do it. Know the trends (the farther down the arm you move, the lower the levels tend to get) and what compartments tend to get what spinal levels (the whole hand is C8, T1, for instance), and then work from there.

 

[circulus vitios]

Do you also have to memorize the spinal levels of each individual muscle? If you've just got the plexus to worry about, that's not so bad- just draw it five times a day or so until you know it off the top of your head. But individual muscles... Ugh, there's not a really good way to do it. Know the trends (the farther down the arm you move, the lower the levels tend to get) and what compartments tend to get what spinal levels (the whole hand is C8, T1, for instance), and then work from there.

We have to know the spinal levels of each individual muscle. I can draw the plexus easily, it's just the memorizing nerve roots for each muscle that's throwing me through a loop.

 

[W19]

Well, that sucks. Anatomy blows so hard. I couldn't imagine a dumber way to teach a class: brute force memorization that will be forgotten 1 day after the exam. Medical education is a ******* joke.

Anatomy is the ****tiest class I have been in since I started in college... I did not know what 'feeling depressed' was like until I started that class.... What a freaking crazy way to punish med students!

 

[Mad Jack]

We have to know the spinal levels of each individual muscle. I can draw the plexus easily, it's just the memorizing nerve roots for each muscle that's throwing me through a loop.

Yeah, that was the same problem I had. Good luck man, it ain't easy, especially in the forearm.

 

[circulus vitios]

Anatomy is the ****tiest class I have been in since I started in college... I did not know what 'feeling depressed' was like until I started that class.... What a freaking crazy way to punish med students!

We have a combined anatomy/embryology/histology/physiology block. I feel like shooting myself in the face.

(Just kidding, of course.)

 

[DermViser]

Yeah.

Well the brachial plexus is high yield for boards. It's like one of the first pictures in Anatomy in First Aid.

What is difficult? Knowing the specific initial nerve roots for a specific end nerve?

 

[W19]

We have a combined anatomy/embryology/histology/physiology block. I feel like shooting myself in the face.

(Just kidding, of course.)

Ditto... and clinical skills on top of that! Can't wait for that block to be over, which will be in early March, but NeuroAnatomy/Immunology are next, which I heard have their fair component of memorization.

 

[circulus vitios]

Well the brachial plexus is high yield for boards. It's like one of the first pictures in Anatomy in First Aid.

What is difficult? Knowing the specific initial nerve roots for a specific end nerve?

As an example, knowing that the subclavius is innervated by nerve to subclavius (easy) via the C5,6 roots...and then memorizing the roots for every muscle we cover.

 

[W19]

Well the brachial plexus is high yield for boards. It's like one of the first pictures in Anatomy in First Aid.

What is difficult? Knowing the specific initial nerve roots for a specific end nerve?

Everything is easy for you, Mr. genius!

 

[el_duderino]

Anatomy has been my favorite part of school so far....

 

[DermViser]

As an example, knowing that the subclavius is innervated by nerve to subclavius (easy) via the C5,6 roots...and then memorizing the roots for every muscle we cover.

Instead of doing it muscle to nerve root. Why not do it nerve to nerve root?
http://www.utswanesthesia.com/regional/?page_id=64

 

[circulus vitios]

Anatomy has been my favorite part of school so far....

It's the most soulless and disgustingly boring class I've ever taken. If I could get passing grade in anatomy in exchange for having my fingernails ripped off with pliers, I'd do it in a heartbeat.

 

[W19]

I would not advise anyone to go to med school to become a PCP... There are easier ways to become a PCP and do well financially and not submit yourself to that torture... Now I understand why surgeons are d1cks!🙁

 

[el_duderino]

It's the most soulless and disgustingly boring class I've ever taken. If I could get passing grade in anatomy in exchange for having my fingernails ripped off with pliers, I'd do it in a heartbeat.

Future surgeon, I assume? Seriously I don't get how you could want to be a doctor but not find anatomy fascinating and cool.

 

[W19]

Anatomy has been my favorite part of school so far....

Boy! Never thought in a million years I would miss biochem and genetics...

 

[DermViser]

Everything is easy for you, Mr. genius!

I didn't say it was easy. It requires repetition and even learning it in different ways:
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=brachial+plexus

https://www.google.com/search?q=bra...a=X&ei=pIJWVOLQH9aoyASC9YCYAg&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ

 

[circulus vitios]

Future surgeon, I assume? Seriously I don't get how you could want to be a doctor but not find anatomy fascinating and cool.

Me? **** no.

Anatomy is boring because the entirety of anatomy can be summed up in 3 words: "here it is." You can't do anything with it, other than slice it up or move it around a bit. Biochemistry, physiology, and pharmacology are way cooler.

 

[Successful BM]

1. Be able to draw out the brachial plexus during an exam. That will allow you to match nerves with spinal nerve route.
2. Memorize what nerves innervate a muscle.
3. Match the spinal nerve route with the muscle.
4. Profit.

Don't memorize the nerve routes for every single nerve. That's a waste of time. Break it into components and give yourself a few seconds to think on an exam. Relying on instant recall is not the way to approach anatomy.

 

[circulus vitios]

1. Be able to draw out the brachial plexus during an exam. That will allow you to match nerves with spinal nerve route.
2. Memorize what nerves innervate a muscle.
3. Match the spinal nerve route with the muscle.
4. Profit.

Don't memorize the nerve routes for every single nerve. That's a waste of time. Break it into components and give yourself a few seconds to think on an exam. Relying on instant recall is not the way to approach anatomy.

Is there a guide on how to do this? Maybe I'm a complete idiot, but when I trace the nerves in my drawings I don't always end up with the right spinal nerves.

 

[DermViser]

1. Be able to draw out the brachial plexus during an exam. That will allow you to match nerves with spinal nerve route.
2. Memorize what nerves innervate a muscle.
3. Match the spinal nerve route with the muscle.
4. Profit.

Don't memorize the nerve routes for every single nerve. That's a waste of time. Break it into components and give yourself a few seconds to think on an exam. Relying on instant recall is not the way to approach anatomy.

THIS. Pretty much be able to draw it out completely. There are Youtube videos on how to do this. I don't know why this is so difficult and it's not like it's a low yield topic on Step 1. It's a traditionally tested topic.

 

[DermViser]

I would not advise anyone to go to med school to become a PCP... There are easier ways to become a PCP and do well financially and not submit yourself to that torture... Now I understand why surgeons are d1cks!🙁

Anatomy is not the reason surgeons are the way they are.

 

[W19]

Anatomy is not the reason surgeons are the way they are.

I know that, but I heard their residency is like hell while I am already feeling going thru hell regarding that class and it's not even 0.0000001% what surgeons have to go thru... It was a failed analogy on my part, I guess...

 

[DermViser]

I know that, but I heard their residency is like hell while I am already feeling going thru hell regarding that class and it's not even 0.0000001% what surgeons have to go thru... It was a failed analogy on my part, I guess...

Depends on the specialty. Their residency is difficult for other reasons. Needless to say, Anatomy is not like Surgery.

 

[fancymylotus]

Memorizing for anatomy sucked, I used to draw this stuff out from the book once, tape it to my wall and stare at it for awhile, and then redraw it a zillion times till I memorized it. Regurgitate on exam -> forgotten.

**** anatomy

 

[sinombre]

I know that, but I heard their residency is like hell while I am already feeling going thru hell regarding that class and it's not even 0.0000001% what surgeons have to go thru... It was a failed analogy on my part, I guess...

You are just adjusting. The material will get much harder, but you will feel much more comfortable learning it. There's probably twice as much material second year and I'm more relaxed (and performing better) than I was last year.

 

[DermViser]

You are just adjusting. The material will get much harder, but you will feel much more comfortable learning it. There's probably twice as much material second year and I'm more relaxed (and performing better) than I was last year.

I think M2 is also more interesting, pertinent in terms of Path/Phys/Pharm/Micro, and you have the prior foundation of M1 to build on.

 

[Successful BM]

Is there a guide on how to do this? Maybe I'm a complete idiot, but when I trace the nerves in my drawings I don't always end up with the right spinal nerves.

Remember that in a plexus, signals travel in one direction. In this case, from right to left. So if you need to know the spinal nerve routes for the biceps brachii on an exam

1. Draw this out on a piece of scratch paper.
2. You know that the biceps brachii is innervated by the musculocutaneous nerve. Find the nerve on a plexus.
3. Backtrack the flow of the plexus from left to right.
4. Voila, the nerve routes for the biceps brachii are C5, C6, and C7.

 

[W19]

You are just adjusting. The material will get much harder, but you will feel much more comfortable learning it. There's probably twice as much material second year and I'm more relaxed (and performing better) than I was last year.

Thanks for bringing some good news regarding this whole ordeal! There are many times during the last 3 months I questioned myself about why didn't I pursue pharmacy, which was my plan B...

 

[circulus vitios]

Remember that in a plexus, signals travel in one direction. In this case, from right to left. So if you need to know the spinal nerve routes for the biceps brachii on an exam

1. Draw this out on a piece of scratch paper.
2. You know that the biceps brachii is innervated by the musculocutaneous nerve. Find the nerve on a plexus.
3. Backtrack the flow of the plexus from left to right.
4. Voila, the nerve routes for the biceps brachii are C5, C6, and C7.

Alright, I'll give it a try. Thanks so much.

 

[DermViser]

Thanks for bringing some good news regarding this whole ordeal! There are many times during the last 3 months I questioned myself about why didn't I pursue pharmacy, which was my plan B...

Do they not learn Anatomy in pharmacy school? Heck they learn it in dental school too.

 

[Successful BM]

Alright, I'll give it a try. Thanks so much.

There are 3 exceptions, which may be what's tripping you up:
1. Axillary nerve routes are C5, C6.
2. Both upper and lower subscapular have nerve routes at C5, C6.
3. Thoracodorsal has nerve routes C5, C6, C7.

These aren't too bad to memorize since they all come off of the posterior cord. I know there's some variation in what people are taught, but all the other nerves follow the plexus closely.

 

[PL198]

The whole nerve correlation is actually really important and something that can help you out down the road. I thought it was stupid but you'll learn crap later that makes it make sense and shows you how it's useful. Dermatomes are important too

 

[W19]

Do they not learn Anatomy in pharmacy school? Heck they learn it in dental school too.

Are you sure Anatomy in pharm school is at the same level as it is in med school? LPN learn anatomy too, but I am not sure they learn with the same intensity we do....

 

[circulus vitios]

Yeah, I don't get it. The axillary nerve is C5,6 but you can trace it to C5-T1?

edit: Just saw your latest post.

 

[DermViser]

Are you sure Anatomy in pharm school is at the same level as it is in med school? LPN learn anatomy too, but I am not sure they learn with the same intensity we do....

I don't know about intensity but professional school is professional school. At Harvard, medical students and dental students take many of their basic sciences in the first 2 years together (dental students have added labs on top of that I believe).

 

[fancymylotus]

Do they not learn Anatomy in pharmacy school? Heck they learn it in dental school too.

AHEM. No dentist bashing allowed, dermie

 

[fancymylotus]

I don't know about intensity but professional school is professional school. At Harvard, medical students and dental students take many of their basic sciences in the first 2 years together (dental students have added labs on top of that I believe).

We do. We did. Yuck

 

[PL198]

I don't know about intensity but professional school is professional school. At Harvard, medical students and dental students take many of their basic sciences in the first 2 years together (dental students have added labs on top of that I believe).

If taking together means attending the same lectures while taking different exams, sure but id hardly call that the same class.

 

[DermViser]

AHEM. No dentist bashing allowed, dermie

I'm just saying he would have not been able to escape it no matter what professional school he went to: Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Optometry, etc. He'd be in Pharmacy school saying the same thing.

 

[DermViser]

If taking together means attending the same lectures while taking different exams, sure but id hardly call that the same class.

They take the same exams, genius.

 

[fancymylotus]

If taking together means attending the same lectures while taking different exams, sure but id hardly call that the same class.

Same exams

 

[W19]

I don't know about intensity but professional school is professional school. At Harvard, medical students and dental students take many of their basic sciences in the first 2 years together (dental students have added labs on top of that I believe).

Professional school is professional school; however, some put emphasis on different things. I know pretty damn well pharm school curriculum since my best friend is a P4. They DO NOT put that much emphasis in Anatomy like med school does. I don't know much about dental school though.

 

[fancymylotus]

I'm just saying he would have not been able to escape it no matter what professional school he went to: Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Optometry, etc. He'd be in Pharmacy school saying the same thing.

You need to go to the fish antibiotic thread and answer my very serious question I posted