Advice on learning anatomy

Hi,

This is my first ever post on this forum.

I am about to start a one year Access to HE Health and Human Science Course this September to hopefully study Physiotherapy in 2012 as a mature student.

I have started learning the entire anatomy because it will take a load off learning when I hopefully start university next year, knowing the entire anatomy. I have broken it down into sections. I have started so it will be a bit less load for me if I know the entire anatomy. For example, I am starting with all the bones in the upper limbs and have started with the clavicle then scapula then humerus etc,once I have learnt all the bones in the upper limb I will move on to the ligaments and joints of the upper limbs then muscles etc.....

1.Upper limbs,
2.Lower limbs,
3.Mid portion,
4.Neck, head

Learning Order
1.Bones
2.Ligaments + Joints
3.Muscles (Origins, Insertions, Innervation, Function)
4.Basic Nerves (Paths and what they innervate)
5.Basic Arteries
6. Lymph Nodes


I would appreciate if anyone who has completed a degree in Physiotherapy BSc in England could tell me if I need to LEARN EVERY SINGLE MARKING ON EVERY SINGLE BONE ON ALL PLANES??
AND WOULD THE ABOVE METHOD BE AN EFFECTIVE WAY OF LEARNING THE ANATOMY?[/U][/B]

Thank You

I can only comment for Australia and unfortunately there the answer is Yes! The main origin and insertions are important and which lies medial/lateral to what. This is impt in the diagnosis of conditions that may affect several structures that lie in close proximity to one another. Purchasing a good anatomy atlas and a 3D CD such as those from primal pictures would be a great study aid that you will use long into your professional life. Also the Primal CD's have great quizzes on landmarks and more. I can recommend highly the following anatomy text book/ color atlas as the gold standard for any student of anatomy: Color Atlas of Anatomy

Thanks for the reply,

109 physio's have seen the thread and your the first to answer lol, I don't understand Cheers for the link. I knew I had to learn the origins and attachments I was just making 100% about learning every single landmark even if it's not an origin or insertion. I am going to buy some flash cards and coloring book first and see how I get on. I think the issue I have is because I haven't been taught the anatomy yet so I guess it's a little harder to fully comprehend all the landmarks right now.


Thanks

... did all 109 readers of your post have a BSC from England?
You asked specifically for those people to reply, therefore< I think lots of people read your post and no-one dared to answer....

As for New Zealand, same answer as for PhysioBob.

And on a more personal note: I would find it incredibly difficult to learn anatomy purely from a text book and not relate it to anything else, like pathology and real life models, clinical presentations and muscle testing.


Good luck,
Fyzzio

I agree with my colleagues above,

In the Netherlands we were "forced" to learn it all as well. I remember a particular tutor (orthopaedic surgeon), who would chuck a bone at you during oral exams and expect you to name them all. If you were not good enough, he would cut out an add (cleaning lady, garage salesperson) for you and hand this to you telling you to try another profession. We feared and respected the man, and we learnt our anatomy.

Teaching has changed a lot since those days, students are now expected to look everything up themselves, the strict regime of learning your anatomy has changed. I do nor know if it is for the better. Time will tell.

Good luck with yours

Esther

Esther

Have a look at primal pictures website is a 3d dvd anatomy and has layers hence you have a better understading in the sequence of the muscles. Meaning which is the most superficial and which one is at depth. In the Uk is prescribed to dyslexia students and those that have a hard time in visualising the anatomy. I use it and is my best tool explaing and demostrating to my clients their problems. Nonetheless is also shows nerves and lemphatic system .Use your student card to get the discount.

another tip will include to start off were the muscles or bones are then going to details such as origins and or nerve supply etc.

Also write you own book of anatomy in a word doc as game.

If you a have a partner put her or him down and draw the muscles and bones with a marker.

also use remarks that you could remember, they could be quite cheeky but make sure you wont slip any of that during exam.

learning the muscles how to work in all planes are a bit advance. start off with the simple then go advance. As you go through the BSc you may discover that you may not be interested in musculoskeletal physio.