I passed A & P 1 and 2 with a B+ by reading, studying the diagrams in the book, using the coloring book, and online games. Unfortunately, it really is all memorization. I have to say, you're lucky that you get multiple choice questions in your lab exams. We had to simply fill in a blank (as others did) and we got it wrong if we did not spell correctly. A & P is tough but you can do it. Keep trying!
Wait til you get to the vascular system we had over 400 vessels, and of course fill in the blank. You will be yearning for fossas and foramens when you get to that section!!! I took pix of everything in lab and printed them up from my computer. I went through a ton of ink but got an A :)
Oh yeah, and for lecture ARMANDO HASUDUNGAN on You Tube. He is awesome. Then, draw everything out yourself. If you understand the broad concepts then the science and chem comes easier.
Anatomy is all about memorization... you need to find your style memorizing those information... they don't teach you that in class.... when it comes to Physiology.. its all about critical thinking... its a very challenging and intense class... you need to fight for your grade....its not about memorizing stuff.... you need to understand the concept... from front to back.. back to front.. and try not memorize it.. just pretend you are talking to a doctor and explaining some stuff... and group study.. it helps me when i took physiology because I was able to explain and ask some questions to people.. it really boost my confidence...
Ohhh gosh, I feel your pain! My school makes you take A&P 1, where you learn all the bones, muscles, etc. and then A&P 2 where you cover the veins, arteries, etc. The torture never ends! I agree it is a BIT overwhelming (understatement of the century!) Here are a few things that help me study:
-Open lab time: check and see if your school has open lab times where you can go in and look at the models and practice ID'ing them. This has been a life-saver for me!
- Making flashcards: I'll print images off the internet of what we're studying (the bones, muscles, etc.) and make flashcards I can use to practice studying with
-Atlas: When we purchase an A&P textbook at my school, it comes with an atlas with pictures of the bones, muscles, etc. You can purchase them in most campus book stores or online and also at Barnes and Noble. I use little post it flags to cover up the labels and quiz myself that way
QUIZLET, search it for pictures of bones and their process, also a I used the lab manual on the bones and printed copies of it and just did it over and over again. Now for the lecture. READ THE BOOK. Find a tutor, I did better in Anatomy and Physiology 2 than I did in 1 (stupid nervous system that was 5 chapters long). Also our school implemented the learn smarts, those figgin things are amazing.
Specializes in Critical Care, Med-Surg, Psych, Geri, LTC, Tele,.
A&P was hard! So hard, I dropped it my first go round during an accelerated summer course. I went on to earn As in both A&P 1&2.
I recall using the following methods:
I bought my own models of a skeleton and skull to practice naming parts at home.
Flash cards! Lots of flash cards. For lab, my flash cards showed pics of the parts we had to label. In A&P1, the instructor used real models so I took pics and printed them on my homemade flash cards. The other instructor only used pics from the book, in that case, I copied the books pics.
Ps you can take pics with your phone thru the microscope lens if you focus and align just right!
I used my resources: eg: some classmates just really knew anatomy and I also used the study hrs in the lab.
I practiced naming body parts on my loved ones. Either my kids or the person I was dating at the time. One of my instructors told me that she'd name the parts on her cat as she petted him.
Reading and re-reading the text book helped me. Seriously, I was advised to read the text 4 times! I did this in all my classes except a few.
Be able to Explain concepts out loud in laymans terms. Some students I know spoke to their walls, or pets. I had a kindergartener/1st grader at the time. He was happy to hear me explain concepts, (now that he's older....not so much)
I honestly was so immersed in learning A&P that I could even name the parts of the meat I was eating, as well as the bones.
I also moved my muscles and touched my own anatomy as I learned. So, yes, during tests, I touched my own body like a weirdo, but it helped me to remember body parts by their action.
I actually just finished my A and P's. I got A's in both. Some things I did:
1.) Study all material available. Book-powerpoints if available- and if your using a Pearson publishing book they hAve an online program called Mastering A&P. It's 60-70 dollars but totally worth it.
2.) I literally studied 2 hours a day on just A&P
3.) Flashcards are a must!!!!
4.) Pinterest actually has cool printables for labeling practice and memorization when dealing with bones and muscles
5.) Take pics in lab, print using Walgreens app and study them
6.) When I take notes I use colors and highlighters and rewrite them several times. It just works for me.
7.) Pray :)
Sounds crazy but memorization and repetition is key!! Hope you get better results!! Chin up! They design A&P hard because it's considered a Gateway course. You can do it!!!
There is an online game called Whack-A-Bone and you cant get to the next level unless you make 80%. For lab, I would video the professor while she explained each model. Then I'd take pics of the models, color printed them out (2 copies - one for labeling, the other to test and see if you know it all without the labels), and labeled them as I watched the videos. Go over those pics repeatedly even if you feel you know them already. There were times when I felt I knew something and forgot either the word or the spelling when the test came.
I used a coloring book. Really. There are some great A&P coloring books out there. Taking the time to color every single flipping bone helped me remember them.
For anatomy, you need to memorize! Go to the labs, stay until they kick you out. I made my own tests by taking pictures of the mannequin, print them out, put numbers on them, then a number key and just tested myself. We had to fill in the blank, no MC. Visualize every body parts.
For the physiology, look up the body system on you tube for additional studying. I liked Khan Academy, Armando Hasudagan, and other in depth videos that taught the functions of each systems. This is where you really need to understand the processes of each body system. You need to see how each relate to each other. It's really amazing how codependent our body systems are!
I took anatomy in one semester and physio in another. And I didn't take anything else. People make the mistake of taking other classes (even if easy) and the time they spent working on those classes took away from opportunity to study A&P. If you want to get As in A&P, you must focus only on that. Some ppl will tell you they can do other classes and still get As. To them I say great! But I wasn't one of them. I need complete focus. I spent 8-10 hours studying everyday. The time paid off for me and I got As. You can too if you put in the work and time.
Find what works for you. Reading, watching videos, flashcards, test banks, mnemonics, rewriting notes, meet with professor, etc. Just do them all. Dedication and motivation. How bad do you want it?
Memorize over and over. I started studying for exams the first week of school and every day making people quiz me on bones. Do lots of questions from different books or quizlet. I got straight A's in both A n P 1&2
we had over 400 vessels, and of course fill in the blank. You will be yearning for fossas and foramens when you get to that section!!! I took pix of everything in lab and printed them up from my computer. I went through a ton of ink but got an A :)
Tink87, BSN, LPN, RN
75 Posts
I passed A & P 1 and 2 with a B+ by reading, studying the diagrams in the book, using the coloring book, and online games. Unfortunately, it really is all memorization. I have to say, you're lucky that you get multiple choice questions in your lab exams. We had to simply fill in a blank (as others did) and we got it wrong if we did not spell correctly. A & P is tough but you can do it. Keep trying!