? for those who've already taken A&P1

[ccjus123]

I'm preparing to take a 5 week A&P1 class in June. I've already bought the A&P for Dummies book and it's helping me alot. I've got alot of input from these boards and from what I gather it seems that the skeletal system will be the most challenging with all of the bones and terms to remember.

I've got to know and understand where certain areas and parts of the skull and facial bones are like: frontal bone, orbital foramen, zygomatic bone, and mandible, ane more. It just seems like I feel lost since I haven't taken the class yet and don't really know what to expect.

Well my question is I'm viewing some websites on A&P and they list the different views with the parts (anterior, superior, lateral, etc.) and with each view are different parts listed.

What has been your experience? Did you study all views with all of the bones for each view or did your professor focus on 1 or 2 particular views? Should I just focus on studying the "general skeleton" (skull, mandible, hyoid bone, cervical vertebra, clavicle, etc.)?

Please keep in mind that I'm taking an accelerated 5 week course beginning in June

Your thoughts and suggestions are appreciated.

-Thanks,

Cee Cee

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

study everything. a&p 1 is pure memorization. you will be into the muscles before you know it. i would start looking at the muscles now as well. take breaks and do not try to learn this all by sitting and trying to absorb it in one sitting.

see:

• https://allnurses.com/nursing-student-assistance/study-strategies-254733.html - study strategies. specifically look for the information on memorization.
  
• post #42 on https://allnurses.com/nursing-student-assistance/pathophysiology-p-microbiology-145201.html
  - pathophysiology/ a & p/ microbiology/ fluid & electrolyte resources for more a&p websites
  

[deftonez188]

I took an accelerated 6 week course and here's what I did:

- Learned new 'anatomy' every day, and then looked at various books and charts with different pictures to be able to identify it.

- Get a study group and study every weekend together, quiz each other a ton! We nearly literally lived in Panera Bread on the weekends.

- Realize that at least 80% of what you learn you'll forget....especially the names of bones and muscles :) good luck, I remember the one's I use at the hospital for IM injections :)

[mdp0105]

i am currently taking a&p I, of course it isn't a summer course but my teacher usually gives us guidelines of what we need to know as far as memorizing bones, muscles, etc. it is a good idea starting ahead to learn the bones and muscles. like a previous poster said, it is mostly memorization.

hopefully because it is a summer course, your teacher will narrow down what you have to memorize. (at least that is what i am hoping happens in my 4 weeks a & p II class this summer).

good luck!

[fairyjuice444]

Hey, I too, took both A&P I and II in the summer, which was condensed into 5-weeks apiece. My class was 4 hrs. a day, Mon.-Fri. We had lecture for the first 3 hrs. and then lab for the final hr. My teacher gave hand-outs on everything that needed to be learned. We were allowed to stay for as long as we wanted in lab in order to make sure we had it down. We learned every view of the skeleton, because it's vital to know every angle and not just primarily focus on one or two views. It's not as hard as you think it will be. I thought learning all the bones would be nearly impossible, but it was easier than expected. While memorization has a lot to do with it, if you're interested enough, then you will absorb the information simply because it's interesting. I had a great experience, and managed to make a B in both classes, which I was extremely proud of, being that they were fast-track classes, with lecture AND lab tests every week. You will do great, especially since you're getting a head-start. Good luck!

[dune181]

You are right to think that learning the bone protuberances will be hard!

Just make sure to use the lab any chance you get and quiz your classmates and vice-versa.

The rest is gravy.

:)

Good luck.

[meatballexperience]

If it is allowed, I would bring a camera to lab and take pictures of the models you will be tested on, and study from those rather than other pictures. That seemed to help a bunch of students in my class.....

[dune181]

Go for it. Especially helps with muscles and digestion.

Try to use the lab between classes if you can.