Made an C in anatomy, how to prepare for physiology and make an A?

dsb_fam · Jan 4, 2013

Don't laugh, but the Anatomy and Physiology Book for Dummies helped me a TON! It took the concepts and systems and put them into simpler terms. I skimmed it before each section and had such a better grasp for each system. BTW - I received an A in both Anatomy and Physiology 1 and 2, so it was a great help. Good luck with Pathophysiology

xInspiredx · Jan 4, 2013

Review old anatomy notes. I would review the topics that you struggled with the most, since anatomy forms the foundation for physiology. You need a very good understanding of what the parts are in order to fully understand what they do (i.e. function).

Go to your school's bookstore and purchase the physiology book right now. Read the first couple of chapters, and familiarize yourself with its difficulty. The majority of the books have a publisher's site, which is really helpful. (You can usually type in the name of your physiology book along with the words "practice test" or "chapter" into a search engine, and find this publisher's site.) You would be able to find practice quizzes, word banks, and chapter outlines of your book on this type of publisher's site.

You shouldn't overwhelm yourself too much before the class starts though. It's best to know what the syllabus is, and how the class will operate. You can then get an idea of how much you will be required to study per week, what topics will be covered, etc.

The main piece of advice is to study every day. I'm not sure if you were doing this in anatomy, but these types of subjects cannot be crammed a few days before the exams. You should set aside at least 30 minutes each day to study the lecture notes. It would be important to examine how you studied for exams in your anatomy class too. Perhaps you should try other study methods.

Also, ask your professor if s/he even tests from the book. Oftentimes, professors only test from their lecture notes, and just state that you should use the book as a supplemental tool. From past experiences, if they say that they only test from their set of lecture notes, then I would not read the book. If you need clarification on the material, then I would ask the professor during office hours, after class, or a tutor.

Lastly, I would definitely form a study group once your class begins. You can even meet half an hour before or after class if everyone's schedules are too chaotic. It really, really helps to say the words and concepts out loud.

Kunzieo · Jan 4, 2013

If your learning style is auditory- search iTunes for podcasts by Dr Gerald Cizadlo.

He teaches at a private college and records and posts his lectures online for free! He is an EXCELLENT professor (and I believe worked as an RN for many years) and I very much enjoy listening to him for some "refreshers" now and then (yeah, yeah, I'm a nerd...) but I think they way he explains things is much clearer than other professors or textbooks that I've had.

nurselia · Jan 4, 2013

The thing that helped me out the most for anatomy was watching YouTube videos on everything. Seriously. YouTube had a video on literally everything dealing with anatomy and explains it with visuals and detail. Try it out, plus it made my studying easier! Good luck!

SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP · Jan 4, 2013

Use Dr. Leslie Samuel's video tutorials on YouTube. They are GREAT! You'll find his channel under Interactive-Biology. He's got great vids for neurons, action potentials, cardiac cycle, digestion, etc. I would definitely do an Anatomy refresher before you start Phys. Your instructor will expect that you know where/what is being discussed without having to explain it anatomically. I love University of Minnesota's Web Anatomy site. It's got tons of online anatomy quizzes and is so helpful to refresh your memory!

Here's the link: Anatomy and Physiology Learning Modules - CEHD - U of M

thelittledoe · Jan 7, 2013

I'm surprise anatomy and physio are separate courses! I've haven't heard of that yet. I took an online lecture and in-person lab. I had several tools. I personally used a coloring book for A&P. I took photos of every model in lab and used them to study at home. I used quizlet.com to make my own flashcards to study from. For a breakdown, this is my studying:

1. Read the chapter BEFORE lecture. Highlight only one main point in each paragraph (otherwise I'd highlight the whole thing)

2. Make an outline of headlines and definitions.

3. Make flashcards with the definitions.

4. Explain every concept to your family. This annoyed my family so much and most of the time they wouldn't listen but it helped to me vocalize and talk myself through it. If you can, do this with a study group instead!

5. At the end of every test, note which types of questions and which topics your professor is most fond of.

6. Study these topics like CRAZY for mids and finals.

7. Good luck and have fun! I loved learned A&P!