How did you get an "A" in anatomy?

[Diver Dude]

Successful students please share your wisdom. This would not just be the super smart, but those like me that have to work for thier grades. I'm a 42 year old male who has about a 3.6 gpa so far and am looking to maximize my gpa for preparing to apply next year.

I currently have a coloring book, flash cards, and a positive mental attitude.

Thanks for any ideas, advice, etc.

[GeneralJinjur]

I practiced muscles and bones on my children. I did little run throughs every night during baths. When I was reading, I also pointed to my own origins and insertions. Sometimes I found myself motioning during tests, but the teachers never bugged me about it.

The more I was able to be interested by the text, the more I remembered. Oh, and if you want to always remember the sliding filament model of muscle contraction, you should write a short story about it. My A&P I professor made us do that and I still remember it and can explain it clearly 3 years later.

[kimka]

In all honesty it wasn't easy! I actually studied my butt off. I found it helpful to make crossword puzzles to memorize stuff and then I went online and found quizzes to take. The main thing I attribute to getting me an A though was buying these flash cards and carrying them with me everywhere. I would study them in line at the food store and stuff. It really helped out a ton.

[BosRMT]

For Anatomy pick key words to associate with definitions rather then a full sentence. Charts and comparisons, draw some diagrams.

Make it as real as possible to understand everything to make sense of what it is you are reading

Read everything over and over and over and over until you can basically tell it as a speech.

Have friend quiz you, even friends who aren't interested in nursing. It's a way to stay close with your friends while studying at the same time!

[MedChica]

I have revised my study habits. It hit me mid-semester. When I fine-tuned my methods, I found that I still made 'A's but studied less often, it seemed.

I'm more of an visual kinesthetic learner.

- I studied the chapter BEFORE class and made associations. I always read BEFORE class. This way, you can actually listen and absorb what the instructor is saying.

- I broke my study sessions up into small increments, studying between class/breaks. I briefly skimmed when I got home just to keep it in my head. I usually go to the gym and run/walk while reading my books.

- I don't actually take 'notes'. I highlighted and wrote instructor insights in my book.

- I listened to the lecture instead of taking a bazillion notes. I never trusted myself to learn this way, but, I'm pretty good at it.

I'm not one for group study sessions. It slows me down, but, that's a personality thing...really. Everyone has a different work ethic. A good and bad thing.

Understanding the info?

- Mnemonics

Idiot purple monkeys always talk

Interphase, prophase, metaphase anaphase, telephase.

- Associations and stories.

OSMOSIS --> Water is stupid and follows salt (or any other particle) wherever it goes. (got this from AN poster)

FILTRATION --> Water and salt (or any other particle) are weanies. They go wherever they're bullied/pushed.

HYPOTONIC -> Makes me think of hippos (which gain weight).

EX: Cells in a hypotonic solution gain fluid and can burst (hemolysis).

This helped me to distinguish between hypo/hypertonic.

- Drawing. Short diagrams and pictures

Diffusion

H ------> L

substance moves from higher to lower area of concentration

Facillitated Diffusion

H (m) --------> L

substance moves from higher to lower area of concentrationbut is helped along by a helper molecule

Breakdown of protein

urea

Protein -----> C, H, O, N ----> Liver -----> Urine

BASICALLY....Carbon, hydrogen and oxygen can be broken down with no problem...but Nitrogen is 'special'. It's sent to the Liver for 'processing'. Some of it is rejected and converted to urea by the Liver. The urea is banished to the kidneys to be peed out of the body...

For some reason, I get more out of a picture than words. If I can DRAW it and see how everything relates, I'm good.

I also memorize regional terms and anatomy by drawing a picture of the structure OR associating the part in relation to my own body. I point and associate.

I have to be able to 'see' what's being discussed.