How do I study for anatomy & physiology?
Answer
Many A&P students have the most success when using visuals, hands-on studying techniques, and real world applications relating to what they’re studying. When it comes to studying the names and locations of different body parts, using flashcards or Quizlets with pictures is a great way to familiarize yourself with what can be an overwhelming list of terms to memorize. There are a ton of resources out there; below is a link to a folder of Quizlets relating to each system of the body for your use. The “learn” feature is an excellent resource to ensure that you have mastered the features and names of different body parts before lab quizzes!.
When it comes to physiology, creating a visual guide that breaks down the different body systems can be a good way to simplify complex topics. For example, creating a diagram of the blood flow through the chambers of the heart and the body can make it easier to understand the circulatory system as a whole. By breaking physiological concepts down to their basics, it becomes easier to understand and build on your knowledge until you feel confident in the content. Using visual aids will help apply abstract concepts to the real world, which can make them a lot more understandable.
Creating mnemonic (nuh-mah-nik) devices relating to information in class can be a great aid for memorization. A mnemonic device is a memory technique in which you create easier-to-remember shortcuts to help remember more complex topics. “PEMDAS” is a very common mnemonic used in math to help memorize the order of operations; it’s easier to remember the phrase “Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally”, or “PEMDAS”, than it is to remember “Parentheses, Exponents, Multiply, Divide, Add, Subtract”. An example of using a mnemonic device in A&P could be remembering the phrase “Come, Let’s Get Sun Burned!” to remember the layers of the epidermis– Corneum, Lucidum, Granulosum, Spinosum, Basale. There are lots of mnemonics for anatomy and physiology online, or you can create your own!
Use your resources to your advantage! Be sure to ask your instructor for clarification and/or attend their office hours if you aren’t understanding something in class. If reaching out to your instructor is intimidating, it can be equally helpful to talk to your classmates to go over class content together and form study groups. Of course, tutoring for anatomy and physiology is available in the library as well!