Learning anatomy consists of visualization of the relations between the various structures of the body and understanding their corresponding functions.
The student should approach an anatomical structure by trying to correlate its purpose with its design. Structures that are close together should be related not only spatially but also functionally. The student should also try to project clinical significance to the anatomical findings. For example, if two nerves travel close together down the arm, one could speculate that a tumor, laceration, or ischemic injury might affect both nerves; the next step would be to describe the deficits expected on physical examination.
The student must approach the subject in a systematic manner, by studying the skeletal relations of a certain region of the body, the joints, the muscular system, the cardiovascular system (including arterial perfusion and venous drainage), the nervous system (such as sensory and motor neural innervations), and the skin. Each bone or muscle is unique and has advantages due to its structure and limitions or perhaps vulnerability to specific injuries. The student is encouraged to read through the description of the anatomical relation in a certain region, correlate illustrations of the same structures, and then try to envision the anatomy in three dimensions. For instance, if the anatomical drawings are in the coronal plane, the student may want to draw the same region in the sagittal or cross-sectional plane as an exercise to visualize the anatomy more clearly.
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Create a glossary
. To help you learn and memorize key anatomy terminologies, create an anatomy glossary that you can keep with you.
Considering the volume of anatomy definitions and intricate terms you need to learn, reread your notes and coursework daily to keep all the material fresh in your mind. But to avoid it getting monotonous, switch up your study styles from simple reciting to creating flashcards, mnemonics, drawing diagrams, or watching video tutorials.
When you are learning a new and complex subject such as anatomy, you must keep up with all of the course material and get into the habit of regularly reviewing your coursework, ideally daily.
Regularly testing yourself, especially at the end of a topic, will help you see which areas of your learning need more focus. Use old exam papers or create test questions with your group members to quiz each other to improve your exam performance and see what areas you need to improve.
If your medical school offers cadaver dissection sessions or anatomy tutorials, it can be enormously beneficial if you prepare for them beforehand. Learn the names of structures within the section of the body you will learn about in the session. Preparing for each session will help you to get the most out of your anatomy classes and allow you to test your understanding and ask any questions you have.
It's common to know about the function of an organ before learning about anatomy. To help your learning, try linking the structures in the body to their function. Linking concepts in this way can help you retain new information.
When taking notes during anatomy class, only record the important points or shortened sentences. Immediately after the session, create questions based on the lecture materials to help improve your information retention and provide you with good questions for upcoming quizzes and exams.