Does Anatomy get any easier?

dorkypanda · Oct 1, 2014

I have taken anatomy and physiology separately as a full course. I don't recall having smaller amounts of information to absorb and retain. it just seemed to Kind of build up on top of the previous test in some way. I found it helpful to use nemonics when you can. Like when you get to the nerves list it goes by a long string of letters that make up a funny saying about owls..

i used getbodysmart.com and innerbody.com and also search online for specific tissues or whatnot you need to know, there are some great sites for that.

There is also an app for the phone that quizzes your knowledge of where things are located for anatomy.

MotoMonkey, BSN, RN · Oct 1, 2014

Granted I am taking combined anatomy and physiology over an entire year, three terms. It seems to just build. The first term we went at a much slower pace and its just gotten faster and faster since. In this last term we are covering cardiovascular/vessels,

lymphatics and immunity, respiratory, renal, fluids and electrolytes, digestive, metabolism, and reproductive systems all in 10 weeks. Its nearly as much information as we covered in the last two courses combined.

I would love to say that the information gets easier but it doesnt, however, you do get better at learning and remembering material as time goes on. You learn what study methods work for you, you also get to know exactly how the information is going to be presented and what to expect on exams.

I guess to answer the question in your title, yes, it does get easier but it takes determination and focus on your part. The first few weeks can be a bit much but once you finish you will look back and be amazed with how much you were able to learn.

LPN709 · Oct 1, 2014

To answer your question yes and no :) in my personal opinion it depends on the system your studying. For example, I breezed through the endocrine system but had to study much harder for the cardiovascular system. So there will probably be some days you think it's easy and some days you feel like your not going to pass no matter what you do. All perfectly normal feelings! Just study good and thorough and you'll be fine!

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Oct 1, 2014

Education for Nursing - and all other health professions - is based upon a cumulative curriculum whereby each course builds upon the previous ones. So even though you may have difficulty remembering all 'dem bones' at first, the will become more familiar to you when you begin to apply that skeletal information to disease management processes. By the time you graduate, a transverse fracture below the greater trochanter will not only produce a mental model of the injury, but also trigger your knowledge of how it is reflected on a physical assessment. Honest - it really will.

GoodnessFlows · Oct 2, 2014

I took anatomy without physio and my most difficult unit was bones and muscles. I felt that it involved an immense amount of memorization, over and above the other units. I did much better with the nervous and endocrine systems etc., because there was less memorization, and more conceptual type learning. Some of my peers didn't like the conceptual type learning, and preferred muscles/bones with a lot of memorization.

I am now in physio, which has very little anatomy and a ton of function (concepts) that are tough at times to grasp. That said, in a way I feel like it is getting, dare I say, easier, ONLY because as HouTx put it, everything is building upon previous courses (cumulative curriculum). Don't get me wrong, I still have to study for hours upon hours, however I feel like I have the language and a solid foundation and that makes it so much more bearable.

Just wait and see how beautifully everything unfolds throughout the semester and especially when you start physio. Good luck.

vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN · Oct 2, 2014

No it doesn't get easier.

But it begins to be fun.

And it begins to just make sense.

It went from one of my hardest classes ever to my favorite subject.

ThatOneDude822 · Oct 2, 2014

Thanks so much for the feedback everyone!! Hopefully the fact that I'm interested in anatomy will make this class less torturous for me than it is for some others.

My my exam was tonight and it wasn't as difficult as I was expecting. There were a few questions (maybe about 5-7) where I had no clue, which isn't bad considering it was a 70 question exam (30 lab practical and 40 lecture multiple choice). I guess the real determining factor will be the score when it comes out, but at least I'm confident enough to not be stressing out in the mean time. The hours of studying paid off for something at least :)

MotoMonkey, BSN, RN · Oct 2, 2014

Let us know how you did when grades are posted. A good grade on the first test can do a lot to boost your confidence and give you that "I got this" kind of attitude that you need.

natmanzo · Oct 7, 2014

I think it gets easier in some ways. You get used to the types of questions asked, the preparation, etc. mine was split into two classes a&p 237 was the anatomy and 238 was the physio. In my opinion the physio was a tad easier because you were already exposed to the anatomy. I enjoyed my class but I must say my professor was tough.

ThatOneDude822 · Oct 9, 2014

Hi guys, just wanted to update you all. I ended up with an 80% including extra credit! I'm pretty content with that. Before the extra credit quiz I had a 72, but that was still pretty good seeing as the class average was a 63. Our professor also provided us with additional extra credit, so overall in the class I actually have over 100% right now. I calculated out my grade and if I don't do anymore extra credit throughout the quarter (which of course I WILL, but I just wanted to calculate worst case scenario) then I won't be able to get lower than an 83.1 on the remaining exams if I want a B+, which I think is pretty doable. Now that my nerves have calmed a bit and I know what to expect, I'm feeling pretty confident about this class.

feeneishia · Oct 9, 2014

I'm in my third month of Anatomy and love it. I have an A so far. Thanks to a great teacher. But remember for condyles - EPI means top or above, something like that. So that's how I remember the epicondyles. Good luck!