4 Tips on How I Study Anatomy

Anatomy is fun... If you know where to start!

When I started my first lecture for anatomy, I pulled an all-nighter the night before, because I was too excited! I've been waiting for this class since I got into dental school because I love how beautifully complex the human body is and I want to know more. But, before we go on, I'd like to point out that in dentistry, we also study the whole human body, not just the head. The struggle is real but anatomy is actually fun... If you know where to start.

So, today I want to share 4 tips on how I study anatomy to help you guys get started.

• Study them per section

Don't try to memorise everything in one-go. It's better to go through them one by one. It takes time but you'll have a higher chance of retaining that information in the long run.

• Get used to it

Familiarise yourself with these terms. The best way to do this is by hanging out with people who use these terms, like your classmates or colleagues. If you're not into socialising, you can also read books (with anatomical terms and such). For best results, try doing both!

• Mnemonics

I think this is a great tip when you need to memorise a few things on short notice. For example, 'os. frontale' has the word 'front' and its in 'front' of our cerebrum. This works if you need to memorise something fast but you'll probably forget about it in a few hours. This method is for emergencies only!

• Test yourself

There are lots of online quiz about anatomy. So, why don't you give them a try and see how much you know? Practice makes perfect!

"At some point, you have to make a decision. Boundaries don't keep other people out. They fence you in. Life is messy. That's how we're made. So you can waste your lives drawing lines or you can live your life crossing them" - Meredith Grey (Grey's Anatomy)

That's a wrap! These tips are based on my personal experience. It might not work for everyone but I hope this helped.