How To Study Anatomy

How To Study Anatomy

How To Study Anatomy – Anatomy is a very important subject that helps us understand the structure of living things. It helps us understand better, the structures of the body and how they work. Being a vast subject area, anatomy is also a very important part of medical school education.

Anatomy is a very good subject which might be somewhat confusing at times. Thus, you can actually become more knowledgeable in it if you take your time and put your mind to it. It requires a lot of studying if you desire to get better in the subject, and of course, every subject and profession requires studying to excel in them.

Anatomy classes and courses, you expand your knowledge about the different body systems like the nervous system, excretory system, circulatory system, etc. and also how they operate. As we said earlier, it is a vast subject area that will prepare you for working in the healthcare sector.

I advise you follow through with this article as we will be giving you extensive information on all you need to know about anatomy and how you can study anatomy.

Let’s head right in…


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What Is Anatomy?

Anatomy is a branch of biology and it is the studies of the human body structure. Anatomy looks at the structure and position of organs of the body, such as bones, glands, and muscles. An anatomist is someone who studies anatomy.

The word anatomy is gotten from the Greek word “anatome” which means dissection. It observes the structural organization of living organisms.

Some types of anatomy are:

Gross anatomy which deals with the study of organs and structures that can be seen easily with the eyes without the use of a microscope.

Microscopic anatomy deals with the study of the microscopic structures of organs, cells and tissues. It requires the use a microscope.


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Human anatomy deals with the study of the human body and all the systems and organs that makes up the human body.

How To Study Anatomy

Anatomy is one of the most vast subjects area you will study at medical school. Studying anatomy can be tough and that is why we will be taking you through how you can easily study anatomy and come out with very good grades.

·     Create an anatomy glossary

Studying anatomy is like learning a whole new language. To help you learn and memorize key anatomy terminologies, create an anatomy glossary that you can keep with you. Learning the generalized terms can help in improve your knowledge in anatomy and boost your confidence.

·     Enroll in the right class for you

If you have no knowledge on anatomy, that is not a problem at all as you can get begin by enrolling in the right class that will help you understand the subject better even as a new student.

I advise you look for a part of anatomy that interests you or you can take an introductory course that will help you get the primary concepts, terms, theories and topics in anatomy.


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·     Check the study program requirement

This may depend on whether you are studying anatomy for a diploma or degree but it is necessary that you get the advice and guidance of your academic advisor to help you take up the right courses for your study program.

Make sure to ask questions when you don’t understand to be sure you know the right classes to be in.

·     Learn to dissect

Like we said earlier, anatomy is related to dissection because it has to do with parts and structures inside the body. So I advise you always watch closely and participate anytime you have the opportunity to be in the laboratory maybe for practical.

While in the laboratory, listen to the instructor and also engage in discussions with your lab-mates to hear what their thoughts.

It is very vital that you do not miss any practical that involves dissection so that you can get hands-on experience about dissection and also the human body.


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·     Try to think outside the box

When in the lab, make sure to watch carefully and observe if there is anything that looks different from the normal. Be free to ask about your observation and why it is the way it is.

·     Read your textbook and any other material

If you want to understand anatomy better and be very knowledgeable in the subject, you will have to give yourself to studying extensively. Go through your textbook and other related material and take notes of any term or concept that is not clear to you.

To help you study better, you can also try to get visual or study aids with labeled diagrams of what you are studying because this will give you a clearer understanding of what you are reading.

·     Take note of every lab report

While you are in the lab for practical, make sure to you take notes of every activity throughout the practical. Ensure you write down every lab report because it will really be a great help to you while studying.

·     Look for resources online

Thanks to the internet being a useful tool, there are lots of information about anatomy that you can learn online. With the online resources you can understand the subject better.


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·     Write down what you read in your own words

As you study, it is very important that you jot down what you have read in your own words because it will help you understand better and also remember what you have read. Learn to break down concepts, definitions and explanations you come across while reading in your own terms for better understanding.

I recommend you use mnemonic like taking the first letters of every word and using them to form a word. It may not work for everyone, but this will help you remember what you have read. For example, look at the characteristics of living things which is represented by (MR NIGER DAC) which is (Movement, Reproduction, Nutrition, Irritability, Growth, Excretion, Respiration, Death, Competition and Adaptability).

·     Study related subjects

Studying other subjects that are related to anatomy can help you understand anatomy better. Some of these subjects include; embryology, evolutionary biology and comparative anatomy.

You can also choose to enroll in classes in these related subjects to acquire more knowledge about how they relate to anatomy.

·     Join or create a study group

Creating a group with other anatomy students that you can freely work with can help make your study sessions more effective. Make plans to regularly meet with your study group to revise lecture notes and recap what was taught in every session. You can then ask each other questions or go over any anatomy concepts you struggled with. A study group will greatly help you with your studies and keep you accountable.


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·     Learn in sections

It can be very difficult to learn the whole anatomy of the body in one sitting. So I recommend you break the human body down into sections and join the sections together later. This will really help you get extensive knowledge on the specific sections in detail and avoid anatomy becoming too hard.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is studying anatomy hard?

Studying anatomy can be quite difficult and requires extensive and consistent studying and dedication to what you are the subject. You will have to give enough time to it even outside class.

How can I memorize anatomy easily?

Anatomic terms are not easy to memorize as they can be difficult to remember, yet that is not a problem as you can memorize these terms easily by:
Linking the word to the structure and creating a mental picture of what you are learning
Breaking down the words and making it easy for you to recognize them by using mnemonics
Searching for the meaning of words
Making use of flashcards

If I studied anatomy, where can I work?

There are so many of career choices for you if you studied anatomy and some of them include:
Doctor
Nurse
Medical scientist
Veterinarian
Teacher or professor

Is an anatomist a doctor?

For students of anatomy, they spend four years in the university after which they will be given a BSc in Anatomy Science but they are not a doctors or surgeons and they are not allowed to carry out any surgical operations regardless of their knowledge about human anatomy.
Studying anatomy prepares you to become a doctor or surgeon yet you will still have to spend six years studying medicine to become a certified doctor.


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Final Note

Anatomy is a very great subject although it might seem difficult yet all you need is time and dedication which will help you understand exactly what the subject is all about.

There’s a very wide range of elements to learn and remember, which will make it a really difficult subject to study if you don’t have a good study plan. So you will need to give yourself to studying and try to know and understand every term and concept you come across as you study.

Reference(s)

mua.edu – How To Study Anatomy In Medical School

thoughtco.com – Human Anatomy Study Tips

kenhub.com – How To Study Anatomy


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