Can anyone give me advice on studying for Anatomy Class?

js408 · Feb 8, 2009

i just started anatomy and i'm so overwhelmed i feel like i'm just spinning my wheels when i study!
i'm still studying cell life and tissues i am trying to remember every little thing. i'm exhausted and a little discouraged. i just don't know exactly what i will be tested on so i am trying to do it all at once. i can't imagine that i will be tested on every little thing....or maybe i will....i don't know?!
can anyone suggest a direction or a focus point on how to study such a broad subject.
any advice would be really, really appreciated.
thank you thank you :bowingpur

i'm taking anatomy also. maybe you can ask your professor what you will be tested on and he/she will be nice enough to tell you. we have a lot of material to cover in my class but so far the professor has been telling us, in general terms, what we'll be tested on.

if nothing else, the professor will probably test you on what's covered in the lecture. my professor only lectures on some fraction of what's actually in our textbooks and she said that if she doesn't cover it in lecture, it won't be on the test.

BellasMommyOBRN · Feb 9, 2009

often times the first test is the most stressful simply because we never know how/what the professor likes to ask! professors are all different, that's for sure! push yourself to do the best you can for this first one, get a feel for how you should prepare for the next one.

ps, the material you are going through now is pretty dry, which doesn't help. the farther you get in this course, the more interesting your reading will become imo

sweet_lime · Feb 9, 2009

Flashcards help me immensely! Try to concentrate on definitions and processes. In the first few chapters, different cell parts, action energy, different stages of protein structures, enzymes, carbs, lipids, etc.

Its fun stuff... try to apply it to your life if possible. ei Vit C acts as an enzyme in your body and you take it to help your body get over colds. Enzymes help your body work. After the first test you'll be able to gauge how to study for the next test even better. Try to do as well as you can, but don't beat yourself up about it.

js408 · Feb 9, 2009

Flashcards help me immensely! Try to concentrate on definitions and processes. In the first few chapters, different cell parts, action energy, different stages of protein structures, enzymes, carbs, lipids, etc.
Its fun stuff... try to apply it to your life if possible. ei Vit C acts as an enzyme in your body and you take it to help your body get over colds. Enzymes help your body work. After the first test you'll be able to gauge how to study for the next test even better. Try to do as well as you can, but don't beat yourself up about it.

Vitamin C does not help you get over colds :smokin:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/26697.php

http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/DSH/colds.html

etc.

CorazonDeOro · Feb 9, 2009

I make lots of flashcards and I also googled "anatomy and physiology practice tests" and I found TONS of great sites! Getbodysmart.com is one that I find really helpful in memorizing body parts.

sweet_lime · Feb 9, 2009

Those are really interesting studies :)

Of course I was just giving a quick generalization for an ex. on how to apply it to things you know or think you know already

nattles · Feb 9, 2009

Anatomy is all about memorization... as my teacher said, "if you are going to do well in the class you must live and breath anatomy"...it's really the truth. it helps to relate what your studying to your own body or things you see everyday. hope that helps....good luck, you can do it!

js408 · Feb 9, 2009

I make lots of flashcards and I also googled "anatomy and physiology practice tests" and I found TONS of great sites! Getbodysmart.com is one that I find really helpful in memorizing body parts.

I've never seen a need to use flashcards... Until now. First week of anatomy is over and I have about 130 cards that I made :bugeyes: It's going to be a loooong 16 weeks

Hanabna · Feb 9, 2009

Anatomy is so much harder than I ever anticipating. I only received a 71% on the first lecture exam and have a lab exam on Tuesday. I am soooo discouraged. I mean I KNOW I only studied for three nights... so I blame lack of studying for the poor grade. I can't help but feel stupid though lol. I just hate studying. I'm used to getting better grades with minimal effort. I'm so stressed out.

j450n, BSN, MSN, RN · Feb 10, 2009

Anatomy is so much harder than I ever anticipating. I only received a 71% on the first lecture exam and have a lab exam on Tuesday. I am soooo discouraged. I mean I KNOW I only studied for three nights... so I blame lack of studying for the poor grade. I can't help but feel stupid though lol. I just hate studying. I'm used to getting better grades with minimal effort. I'm so stressed out.

I couldn't agree with you more. You would think it is just memorization and regurgitation, but it's so hard to retain it sometimes. I just took a muscles exam today and couldn't even remember some of my origin and insertion points.

I thought of a pretty cool mnemonic for the quadriceps group though.

Q: What are the attachments for the quadriceps group?

A: "I Fart, Poop, and Tinkle."

Ilium, Femur, Patellar, and Tibia.

It's kind of lame... :bugeyes:

js408 · Feb 10, 2009

Anatomy is so much harder than I ever anticipating. I only received a 71% on the first lecture exam and have a lab exam on Tuesday. I am soooo discouraged. I mean I KNOW I only studied for three nights... so I blame lack of studying for the poor grade. I can't help but feel stupid though lol. I just hate studying. I'm used to getting better grades with minimal effort. I'm so stressed out.

You need to study every day and every minute that you're awake and not in class if you want an A. These are the serious classes that make or break a pre-nursing student. They're supposed to be hard. Time to step up to the challenge and work your ass off.