Whether you are planning to become a doctor or simply learn more about the human body, anatomy is an important subject because it helps to understand the structure and functions of the organism. However, it is also complex and rich in content, so without a good study plan it can be difficult. By following the right course, taking notes according to your needs, gaining laboratory experience and deepening concepts outside the classroom, you will be able to study the subject at its best and get to know it thoroughly.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Learn During Lessons
Step 1. Take the course that's right for you
Are anatomy studies totally new to you or do you have experience with the subject? Are you interested in a specific part, such as the structure of the skeleton or the central nervous system? Make sure you take a course that suits your level of knowledge and needs.
- If anatomy is a totally new field for you, it would be advisable to take an introductory course to assimilate the basic concepts, theories and terms needed for your future studies.
- If possible, ask a friend or colleague who has already taken an anatomy class to show you their notes and lesson plan, so you can see if they fit your needs.
Step 2. Consider if anatomy is included in your curriculum
If it is a compulsory subject for graduation or another degree, speak with your course manager to make sure you are taking the lessons you need. To properly prepare for an exam and receive the right credits, you will need to attend both the theoretical course and the practical one in the laboratory.
Whenever you have doubts, talk to your course manager for clarification
Step 3. Use visual aids
Anatomy studies the human body in depth, so it is a subject rich in concepts and definitions. Complement your notes with labeled diagrams and sketches to understand where each individual part of the body is and how it interacts with the rest of the body.
- Ask the teacher if he has any pictures or diagrams that you can copy to study better.
- Use unlabeled versions of diagrams or sketches to test your knowledge and capture it better in memory.
Step 4. Collaborate with your colleagues
Try forming a study group with your peers or meet up once a week to exchange notes and talk about the course. Take the opportunity to get help with concepts that you just can't assimilate.
- You can also use these encounters to explain concepts to your teammates. This will allow you to review and fix the information in your mind.
- These meetings should aim to create a relaxed and informal space where you and your colleagues can talk freely about the course. Promote dialogue, avoid following the classic question and answer format used in class.
Step 5. Teach the subject
Give private lessons or teach the concepts you have learned to friends, family, roommates or other people who want to know more. Teaching a topic helps you understand if you understand the subject thoroughly or not, so both you and the person who will listen to you will benefit.
- Ask a friend or relative if you can try teaching them a particular concept of anatomy. Explain to him as best you can and invite him to repeat what he understood. If there are topics that are not well understood or that you cannot teach, then you may want to go and review them.
- Offer to tutor a student who is further behind you. You will have the opportunity to review the topics and help someone.
Step 6. Study related subjects
Anatomy shares a lot of information with other subjects, such as embryology, comparative anatomy, and evolutionary biology. Take courses on related topics that can help you reach your goals.
- Comparative anatomy and evolutionary biology examine the development of the human anatomical structure and how it relates to the anatomy of other animals.
- Embryology focuses on the development of sex cells from the uterus to delivery.
Method 2 of 3: Work in the Laboratory
Step 1. Learn to dissect
Anatomical studies are closely related to the internal part of the organism. If possible, observe or participate in a dissection. Try to study a corpse as best you can, associating recently learned topics with what is in front of you.
- Talk to your lab mates and listen to them, so you don't miss any passage and deepen your study. Try not to skip lab sessions, even if you don't like them. It's a valuable field experience that you can't get anywhere else.
- If you object to human dissection, ask the teacher to help you find an online dissection form. You will be able to digitally dissect the body without having to work with a corpse.
Step 2. Examine the differences
Anatomy books focus on the average human being, but no individual will have the same shape or size as you see on the theory volumes. When you are in the lab, consider the differences with what you have studied in books, in order to understand what is normal and what is abnormal.
- Share your thoughts with a teacher. Ask him if a certain condition you observed should be considered average or is abnormal / problematic.
- When you are given an explanation, always ask questions to deepen it, in order to understand not only the differences between certain parts of the body, but also why.
Step 3. Write in-depth lab reports
You will likely be given a grade for lab reports, but don't consider them just from this point of view - remember they are also a valuable tool for yourself. Write accurate and well researched reports. Don't just enter information that your teacher asked you to, also add personal observations that you consider useful.
- The report should include assumptions, tests, raw data and related interpretations.
- Take advantage of data interpretation to include information from the theoretical course and other sources, such as sector journals and monographs. In the report, add notes to explain why you have drawn certain conclusions.
Method 3 of 3: Studying Alone
Step 1. Read
The teacher assigned you some readings for a very specific reason. Read the textbook and all the articles included in the program. In the meantime, take notes on concepts that are not clear to you. Write a reminder to ask questions about the readings during the lesson or at the end.
Look for supplementary reading that might interest you, such as medical novels or historical texts about early dissections. Write down the interesting parts and the ones you think are inaccurate, so that you can ask questions of your colleagues or the teacher
Step 2. Look for other resources on the internet
Take advantage of online lessons or tutorials to better memorize the information acquired. You can also use anatomical models on the web to help you recognize body parts or create digital flashcards to study more efficiently.
Materials found online should be used to complement the study. Remember that it is not enough to get all the information you need. Laboratories and theoretical lessons are equally important for studying anatomy
Step 3. Consider a learning program that is open to all
If anatomy is an interest or hobby, then you don't have to study it, you can learn more thanks to an open platform like Coursera or the Open Learning Initiative. They will allow you to access free courses offered by world-renowned universities.
- If you can't find a general anatomy course, look for a specialized one to start studying.
- These courses offer many materials, but in principle you have to follow them self-taught. To make the most of them, complete all assigned readings, assignments and quizzes, participate in discussion forums.
Step 4. Write the concepts in your own words
Re-formulate long or complex concepts. Instead of memorizing a book, rework the topics in your own words and according to your needs to understand them better and review them effectively.
- Try using flashcards with the concept on the front and the description on the back. Use them to review.
- You may also find mnemonic tricks to help you remember key concepts or phrases. For example, the acronym CSM can help you remember the layers of the scalp, that is cute, sottocute e mepicranial escarol.
- You should consult anatomical drawings as you study the theory.
Step 5. Study Greek and Latin
The medical terminology is full of words from Greek and Latin. For example, the word "cardiovascular" comes from the Greek root καρδιά (kardia), which means "heart". Search for introductory Greek and Latin books or online lessons to understand medical terminology more easily.
- Many books delve into the Greek and Latin roots of medical terminology. Search for specific texts for anatomy students online or in bookstores.
- Take online classes, especially those devoted to body parts or medical terms.
- You don't need to delve into Greek and Latin grammar - you can just focus on the lexicon because you don't have to learn to actually speak Greek or Latin, you just have to learn a few terms.
Advice
- Use a dictionary. In addition to words closely related to anatomy, you will find medical terms you are unfamiliar with. Don't ignore them, look for their meaning!
- The anatomy sector is constantly changing (just think of surgical techniques), so you too have to adapt.
- Whenever you can, study in company.
