How to Master the Art of Anatomy

10 Tips for a Successful Anatomy Exam

From all of the modules and topics that we study in the first two years of medical school, anatomy is one of the most difficult and challenging. The enormous workload and the limited time frame to learn the content in are two of the main challenges that medical students face. Are you worried about the upcoming anatomy exams? Not sure how to learn anatomy? Scared that it will be overwhelming? If the answer to these questions is ‘yes’, this article will give you 10 tips on how to learn anatomy, and more importantly, how to pass the anatomy exams 

1. Find the right anatomy book for you: There are thousands of anatomy books in the library and most of them are quite different from each other – they may be structured differently or may explain the concepts in different ways. It is therefore important to choose an appropriate book for you and stick to it. Try not to use too many anatomy books as this may confuse you. I would recommend using Gray’s for students as it is simple to understand and there are lots of pictures to help you to get your head around complex structures and concepts. The website Teach Me Anatomy is also a useful tool as it’s quite schematic and summarises the main points of each anatomical region.  
2. Use the self-directed learning worksheets for guidance: Anatomy is an enormous topic and it takes time to learn everything, but don’t panic! We don’t have to study everything in detail. When studying or making notes, use the worksheet provided by the university as they say what you need to focus on for your exams and can help guide your learning. If you have time and you’re interested then feel free to learn more and deepen your knowledge! 
3. Efficient notes: Not everyone likes to write notes when studying, but if you’re one of those that find it necessary try not to write too much. Write only the main concepts, summarising the points. You’re likely going to use your notes for revision before the exams so they need to be quite short. Why not try different ways of writing your notes? Also, if you’re looking to save time why not try using the Gray’s anatomy flashcards? They’re really useful and will likely help you to pass the exams! 
4. Make diagrams and drawings: These are tools that can help you in remembering complex concepts and identifying the structures in exams. Using them depends on your way of studying but I really recommend them. If you don’t want to draw, find some drawings or pictures on the Internet and add them to your notes. It’s important to visualise what you are studying as this can help to improve your understanding. 
5. Take out as much as possible from the session in the dissection room: It’s really important to attend each session in the dissection room as it is the only chance to look at the prosections in real-life. Try to complete the worksheet during the session and take this opportunity to ask the facilitators lots of questions. Look carefully at each prosection and try to test yourself on structures whilst there – this may help you to remember better. 
6. Study with the aid of an anatomy atlas: Although anatomy books contain lots of pictures, it might be beneficial to study with an anatomy atlas which will have pictures of the prosections. During the exams your knowledge will be tested using prosections, therefore it’s important to know where each structure is. Learning the theory is not enough if you can’t apply it. If you’re looking for a recommendation, I would recommend using McMinn’s clinical atlas of human anatomy.  
7. Learn week by week:  Leaving all the anatomy content to the last month before exams is quite dangerous. It takes time to familiarise yourself with the material and learn everything perfectly. My advice is to study the material before you go to the dissection room so that you find it easier to look at and remember the prosections. 
8. Ask when you need help: Medicine is quite a challenging course and at times it may be difficult or overwhelming to learn new content quickly. In this case, don’t panic! Ask for help: facilitators, professors and even your colleagues will be available and supportive. 
9. Test yourself with the material learnt: The only way to understand if you’ve really learnt something is to test yourself. The university provides a lot of formative questions that will help you not only to consolidate your learning but also to see if you know the material studied. It is also beneficial to study and practice some questions with a colleague. Two minds are always better than one! 
10. Strategic revision: You should aim to start revision at least one or two months before the exams. Try to create a revision plan so that you don’t feel overwhelmed the week before the exams. Remember, it might be difficult to cover all the material you need to in one month, so it’s important to be strategic and revise mainly the areas that you’re unsure about. It might be an idea to go to the dissection room with your colleagues so that you can test each other. 

I hope these tips are helpful to you when it comes to learning and revising anatomy. Obviously, everyone is different in their way of learning and revising, so it’s important to use the method that you find suitable for you. If you have any tips that you want to share with other students, please feel free to comment on this article! 

Sara Zonzer