studying anatomy

[zeloc]

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Does anyone have any ideas for studying anatomy, the practical portion? Generally a good TA will come to our group and disect/point out all the important structures, but I'm not able to pick up everything right then, especially when the muscle innervations of some nerves are mentioned, and a bunch of stuff is shown in a short amount of time. Often, structures also look different when I'm trying to find it myself and when a TA pointed it out. I would take notes, except I'd miss what the instructor was pointing out. I'd like to preview lab, but how should I go about it? CoA is too detailed and its hard to just get the information I'm looking for without spending a lot of time. One idea I was thinking of was to read the dissector and then look up everything in Stedman's dictionary. I don't have this dictionary but would it tell me the muscle innervations of a nerve, where the structure is located, etc? That way I'd have a general understanding before coming to lab. Any ideas from people who have done well in this class, relating to any part of anatomy lab?

 

[thackl]

Does anyone have any ideas for studying anatomy, the practical portion? Generally a good TA will come to our group and disect/point out all the important structures, but I'm not able to pick up everything right then, especially when the muscle innervations of some nerves are mentioned, and a bunch of stuff is shown in a short amount of time. Often, structures also look different when I'm trying to find it myself and when a TA pointed it out. I would take notes, except I'd miss what the instructor was pointing out. I'd like to preview lab, but how should I go about it? CoA is too detailed and its hard to just get the information I'm looking for without spending a lot of time. One idea I was thinking of was to read the dissector and then look up everything in Stedman's dictionary. I don't have this dictionary but would it tell me the muscle innervations of a nerve, where the structure is located, etc? That way I'd have a general understanding before coming to lab. Any ideas from people who have done well in this class, relating to any part of anatomy lab?

We have a list of structures for each lab. I spend 15-20 minutes the night before lab locating the structures for the next day in my Netter. For anything tough or interesting, write the netter page #'s down in the margins of my list for quick reference the next day. For lab, I bring the 'hit list' and make sure I find/understand everything before leaving. If it is a particularly tough lab, I will go over it again for a few minutes that night. Seeing the material (even breifly) 2-3 times in a 24hr period obliterates the 'forgetting curve'. For innervations, get a condensed list off the net or hit the condensed boxes in you class text. Look at those and/or write them out every once in a while and it will come. What's even better is if you keep up, you can take it easy during test week.

 

[TTSD]

For the practical part:

1) Study Netter!!!
2) Verify through ROHEN!! <- very good aide
3) Spend lots of time in lab
4) If you have a significant other, getting a black felt pen and start drawing and touching.

 

[felipe5]

Definitely try to identify each structure that you're responsible for in as many cadavers as possible.... remember that repetition is the mother of all learning. Also, if you can, familiarize yourself with any landmarks that could make your life easier.

 

[Skialta]

It helps to think about what the action of the muscle is when learning insertions and origins. If you can put it in a logical framework it will make the memorization easier, the same thing goes for nerves. I think you have to look at the big picture when looking at a section of the body. Also think about layers of structures. My 2 Cents.

MS2

 

[woolie]

I use the Moore and Dalley book from our class, plus the lab manual plus Netters.

Repetition is the key, I try and go over the stuff in all these different ways so I can see stuff from different angles. Plus, flash cards from Netters to read on the bus.

When I study at my desk, I write out all the significant things in the section. I always keep a big stack of blank xerox paper by my side and just get going with the pencil. That for me, is probably the best tool I have. Writing things out makes you stop and think, plus if you can draw pictures you are even better off.

 

[franklinthedog]

1--see/touch the structure in the body
2--verify in Netter
3--verify in Rohen
4--watch an online video (U of Wisc, U of Mich, UNC, etc...)
repeat 1-4 as needed

it helps me more to see things than to read them

Good luck!

 

[T-W]

I have a anatomy test coming up soon.

Netter is great, I've tried to draw my own pictures too.
More... what should i say, too much info. I get 😴 when i read it.

Franklinthedog, where do find online videos?

 

[Pittance]

TW,

Here are the addresses for sites I found helpful. But beware, too much time spent on the internet can be counterproductive. Of course, you probably know that if you are on SDN 🙂

http://www.anatomy.wisc.edu/courses/gross/index.html
http://ect.downstate.edu/courseware/haonline/toc.htm
http://anatomy.uams.edu/anatomyhtml/gross.html
http://www.meddean.luc.edu/lumen/meded/grossanatomy/dissector/ue/main_ue.html Practice Practical
http://www.meddean.luc.edu/lumen/meded/grossanatomy/
http://www.med.umich.edu/lrc/coursepages/M1/anatomy/html/home.html
http://www.nucleusinc.com/medical-animations.php
http://www.dhpc.adelaide.edu.au/projects/vishuman2/
http://www.anatomy.wright.edu/qtvr/
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/miracle/program.html
http://www.rad.washington.edu/atlas/
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/wnor/
http://visiblehuman.org/
http://www.instantanatomy.net/

 

[thackl]

The UMich practice quizes are excellent for testing relationships and locations. I recommend taking them. You can do an entire block's worth in about three hrs.

 

[dancinjenn]

I agree, Umich stuff is great! We are almost done with anatomy. We only have about 2 weeks left. Study on every body available...look in the disector and try to find the relationships on the body. Then look at netter's, I like the flashcards for review, then I don't "accidentally" look at the labels. I also try to draw out all of the spaces, triangles, and fascial layers...usually you can simplify the netters images that way. Usually in lab my table will find a structure and then we will go over from our notes where it came from, where it is supposed to be going, any relavent nearby structures, innervation, etc. That helps cement what we are supposed to see, and also helps me visualize what everything is during the written tests as well.

 

[T-W]

TW,

Here are the addresses for sites I found helpful. But beware, too much time spent on the internet can be counterproductive. Of course, you probably know that if you are on SDN 🙂

http://www.anatomy.wisc.edu/courses/gross/index.html
http://ect.downstate.edu/courseware/haonline/toc.htm
http://anatomy.uams.edu/anatomyhtml/gross.html
http://www.meddean.luc.edu/lumen/meded/grossanatomy/dissector/ue/main_ue.html Practice Practical
http://www.meddean.luc.edu/lumen/meded/grossanatomy/
http://www.med.umich.edu/lrc/coursepages/M1/anatomy/html/home.html
http://www.nucleusinc.com/medical-animations.php
http://www.dhpc.adelaide.edu.au/projects/vishuman2/
http://www.anatomy.wright.edu/qtvr/
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/miracle/program.html
http://www.rad.washington.edu/atlas/
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/wnor/
http://visiblehuman.org/
http://www.instantanatomy.net/

Wow... that?s a lot. Thanks Pittance! 😀
Yea, I know but I think I?m kind of addicted to SDN already 😉

 

[zeloc]

Thanks for all the responses everyone. I've already started spending more time in anatomy lab, I stay there after my group has left and feel that I am learning much more. I'll try to implement the other ideas when I figure out how to manage my time better.

 

[MeowMix]

Thanks for all the responses everyone. I've already started spending more time in anatomy lab, I stay there after my group has left and feel that I am learning much more. I'll try to implement the other ideas when I figure out how to manage my time better.

I don't get anything out of lab while we are dissecting. I have to go back afterwards and work my way through the dissector line by line, maybe with 1 other person, so I touch everything myself. Then I go home and work on things like blood supply diagrams, innervation, attachments. After a couple of weeks of this it starts coming together and I start looking at other cadavers.

Everybody seems to learn anatomy in a unique and different way. I know it is frustrating, but you will eventually find something that works for you. Ask your anatomy instructors for their suggestions; an experienced instructor can be fantastically helpful. For example, for the extremities I had to learn the brachial and lumbosacral plexi and connect all the other info to those, organizing by compartment. I tried what the other students were doing and I just kept forgetting everything.

 

[TTSD]

I don't get anything out of lab while we are dissecting. I have to go back afterwards and work my way through the dissector line by line, maybe with 1 other person, so I touch everything myself. Then I go home and work on things like blood supply diagrams, innervation, attachments. After a couple of weeks of this it starts coming together and I start looking at other cadavers.

Everybody seems to learn anatomy in a unique and different way. I know it is frustrating, but you will eventually find something that works for you. Ask your anatomy instructors for their suggestions; an experienced instructor can be fantastically helpful. For example, for the extremities I had to learn the brachial and lumbosacral plexi and connect all the other info to those, organizing by compartment. I tried what the other students were doing and I just kept forgetting everything.

Indeed, oftentimes during group dissection you will not get the best view needed. You need to go back as much as you think is needed to get the orientation and placement of the structure down.