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Tips for Studying Anatomy
1. Make the facts your own
This is a simple idea that far too few students practice regularly. Don鈥檛 stop at underlining and highlighting important material in your textbooks and study guides: Write it down. Or type it up. Use a coloring book. Chart! Study online! Whatever you do, don鈥檛 just regurgitate it exactly as presented in the material you鈥檙e studying. Make it your own 鈥� one of the most important tips for studying anatomy!
2. Discover the type of learner you are
To get the most out of your study time, you need to figure out what your learning style is and alter your study habits to accommodate it. Visual? Try flashcards. Auditory? Check out online resources. Don鈥檛 follow along what others are doing if it doesn鈥檛 fit your style 鈥� you鈥檒l struggle no matter how much effort is put in.
3. Repetition Repetition Repetition
Notice what I did there? This one is fairly obvious, the more you go over something, the more likely you will remember it. But to avoid the inevitable monotony that comes with repetition, now occasionally switch up your study styles. Be creative! Instead of just reciting, try drawing diagrams, flashcards, mnemonics or video tutorials.
4. Do you struggle with memorizing the terms?
Anatomy is a science, not a fine art. Things are named for a reason, and not because someone wants to appear classy! Search for that reason. Learn the word roots, at least focus on the suffixes and prefixes. There are many websites and online sources you can use that elaborate on anatomical word roots, such as this great resource.
5. Start early and frequently
Instead of cramming on the night before, schedule your time and notes. A general rule of thumb is to allocate 90 鈥� 120 minutes for outside study for every 60 minutes spent in the classroom. Yes, that is why medical school is a full-time job!
6. Quiz, Quiz, Quiz
Get old exams or online question banks. Mock real-life exam conditions, start at the eventual exam time, give yourself only 鈥渁llowed鈥� breaks, and finish the entire exam like it was test day. Then check your score at the end and carefully go through your answers. If you have a study group, do this with them, exchange exam papers with them so that they鈥檒l grade your paper and you鈥檒l mark someone else鈥檚. Heavy emphasis on practice questions and mocking exam conditions is a proven study method!