? for those who've taken A&P1

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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

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You have a leg up if you are familiar with the general bones and structures to be honest it all depends on how in depth you instructor goes but more than likely you will have to know all the views ...will all views be on the test?!?!? probably not... As long as you establish a good studying method you will be fine !!!

5wks YIKES :) j/k

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I will also be taking a A&P class in june, though it is 6 weeks...thats great that you started studying...I bought the book and lab manual already ( I will be using the Marieb book) and I wish I could start studying but finals are coming up and can even begin to wrap my mind to start thinking about anatomy.

any help will be appreciated! :redbeathe

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I will be starting a on-line A&P 1 class that is 4 weeks long I will need some help as well.

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Specializes in CTICU/CVICU.

If possible, I would study all views. It's good that you're starting to get a headstart on A&P..it will help you!

Don't really worry about it until you start..then you can kind of feel out what your teacher may do.

Let me warn you..don't get used to just 1 view. My A&P I teacher had us used to one view..and then on the test..WHAM!! He used another view and people were confused!!

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Specializes in Maternity.

the challenge with a&p is that there is simply too much information that your instructor has to go through. it is likely that he/she will focus on what [they] feel is the most important. be careful to not overwhelm yourself with material, you simply do not know what they will require you to know at this point.

i have tutored a&p 1 and 2 and have found that the basic chemistry really stumps people. maybe try to brush up on those simple concepts if you aren't that strong in chem.

good luck!!!!

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I will be taking Chem 100 (a very basic chem) with A&P I...I think it should help.

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2 words: skeletal atlas

I must say, though, the muscular system kicked my butt much more. I loved the bones.

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I took a 6 week NAS 162 class last summer so I know exactly what you are about to go through. It will all make sense once you are in the classroom studying from the models and all those plastic bones everywhere. But to answer your question, we had to know what everything was from any/all angles. Even our teacher got confused! But seriously. Eat sleep and breath the class and you will be just fine. And come here for help, support, and clarification on anything that doesn't make sense! I had to look up cellular respiration on you tube just to make sense of it.

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Thats alot of preparation for a class before you've even stepped in the room!!! Its good to know what you're doing, but your grade in the class depends all on what your professor wants you to know. I say you chill out and relax while you can, the worry about studying what you NEED to know, and what the professor tells you. It's a difficult class, but just like any hard class it just takes alot of studying and memorization-so don't overdo it trying to memorize everything before the class starts. And most short classes (summer, maymester wintermester) are tailored to the length of time allowed. The professor will pick and choose what's most important to know, and they usually won't overload you too much because they know its alot of stuff to know.

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I've found that every instructor does things differently. I am just finishing up A&P I right now. I have worked my heiney off (hence the infrequent posts here) and I have a 102% in the class right now. I think it's a good idea to familiarize yourself with the vocabulary of medicine (distal, proximal, superior, inferior, medial, etc....) We began at the cellular level, then moved on to histology, the integumentary system, axial and appendicular skeleton (bones), the joints, muscles, and we're actually ending with the CNS, PNS and sensory systems (we didn't get to endocrine).

Things that helped me were initially finding out what type of learner I am (this changed even from when I earned my prior college degree)--there are online tests to help you determine this. Then I ran with that type of learning. I did lots of flashcards and I did lots of reading on medical schools' websites---Michigan has a good one, KU (University of Kansas) is good and Stanford is good. I read the information which I was learning several different ways via these websites. I also liked the Anatomy & Physiology Revealed CD-ROM, although I only used it a handful of times. Oh, and don't be afraid to ask questions. I asked my professor TONS of questions outside of class to help me to comprehend things. Basically,I tried to really LEARN the info and not just memorize it. I'm taking A&P II during the summer (a 4 wk session), so we'll see how that goes...

Not sure if this helps? Hope you enjoy your A&P classes as much as I have.

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Specializes in ortho rehab, med surg, renal transplant.

Hi,

Just wanted to say that I took A&P2 for a summer course but it was 10 weeks long. My memories of it were that I had no life that summer just school & work, gained 15 lbs, but passed with a B. My only suggestion to you would be check to see what grade level your nursing school will accept for A&P1. I say this because my nursing school based entry into program on A&P1, GPA, ACT score, etc, point is can you make your best possible grade in a 5 wk course? Not trying to discourage but it was a lot of information. Best of luck to you in your career

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