Anatomy and Physiology 1 Tips?

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I'm taking A&P 1 over the summer and I've heard it can be really difficult for people with absolutely no A&P knowledge. I really need to get a head start on learning the basics before the class so I can have a grasp on the fundamentals before starting. Any suggestions for what areas to study and any resources I can use? I plan on using Khan Academy and I have the Cliffnotes Quick Review book. Thanks in advance!

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Hi, I'm on my final term of the A&P series right now and started A&P journey last summer. I got As for the first and second term of A&P. Our school used the textbook by Saladin et. al.

For getting a head start, I recommend start looking at and trying to memorize the general anatomical terms of the body and of specific organ systems. We did some basic human biology review first and then started with the Integumentary System (the easiest), then the Muscular System (most things to remember for all the names of major muscles), the Skeletal System, and finally about half of the Nervous System (the most difficult and complex) in a compacted Summer quarter term (10 weeks). We had lecture and lab quizzes every week, 2 practicals, and 3 lecture exams.

Personally, I find the textbook helpful as it's quite informative with everything you need to know. Occasionally, I'd look at internet for pictures of histologies, and some supplemental info. I sometimes look at Youtube videos for studying for lab practicals (anatomy).

Hope it helps. Good luck!

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I took both A&P 1 and 2 over the summer and let me tell you it was the hardest class!! I managed to get an A in both, but those were some intense weeks of studying. I dont know how the students that were working and had very young kids did it!!

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You don't necessarily need A&P knowledge before A&P 1, because this is suppose to be the first fundamental course to learn anatomy and physiology.. If you want, you can do independent studying on your own by just looking up various systems in the body to see the major anatomy (structure) and how it works (function). Memorizing the general concepts will help you during class. The A&P course will get down to the nitty gritty of A&P and all students will be learning the same thing and be tested on same thing.

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I am also very new to A&P and taking my first class right now. My plan is to immerse myself in the material. I listen to A & P lectures on you tube while I am at work, and in the car. I really like Aaron Mullally's channel, he is direct and to the point with the material. Make index cards with things that are important to remember and refer to them often. For me, writing things down in a way that makes sense to me really makes it stick.

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1. Play with models or whatever is available to you. I ended up getting a fake skull when going over sutures and all the foramens.

2. Get Complete Anatomy or something similar like Essential Anatomy. This was worth it's weight in gold. It beats using any anatomy book for reference.

3. Answer questions from question banks like BRS Anatomy or whatever book is recommended to you. This is the king right here, because you often get bog down in the details and realize you're missing conceptual things.

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HI!

It's so great that you want to get a head start on AP! You definitely do not need it, but I admire the enthusiasm and dedication. I would highly rec getting this book: The Human Body concepts of anatomy and physiology by Bruce Wingerd, 3rd ed. It was $7 on amazon, and a total steal. Save the hefty book for when you've actually started so you know which one your professor wants. I bought this book about midway thru AP 2 and wish i had gotten it for AP 1. Its a respectively dumbed down version of the Tortora textbook (which I would bet is the one your teacher would want). It's actually easy to read and written in a logical way. buy this book and rent your class one! good luck!

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