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Two Essential Study Methods for Learning A&P

Download ABMP’s Anatomy and Physiology Graphic Organizer for taking notes from textbook readings and lectures; save them for further study.

A&P Graphic Organizer

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Two Essential Study Methods for Learning A&P

As you already know, anatomy and physiology is the study of the structure and function of the human body. Of all of the subjects you have to learn, this is probably the most difficult, because it is a hard science, and because the body is a complex organism. However, if you commit to using the methods outlined below, your comprehension of A&P will dramatically improve and you can ace classroom quizzes and prepare for the MBLEx (the national massage and bodywork examination to obtain your massage credentials) at the same time.

Essential Method 1: Read Your Textbook Using an Effective Reading System

Read your textbook before the scheduled lecture. When you read, follow these directions: 

  1. Mark the first 10 pages of the assigned reading with paper clips. Place one paper clip on the first page of the reading and one paper clip on the tenth page of the reading.
  2. In this 10-page section, carefully look at every illustration and read the caption associated with the illustration first. Don’t worry that you don’t yet have a framework for understanding the illustration. Just let your eyes absorb the image. It will improve your comprehension of content when you read the material.  
  3. In this 10-page section, read all of the headings and subheadings to familiarize yourself with the structure of the content. This is almost like building a shelving unit in your brain where you will place details of the content later.
  4. Now, go through the 10 pages with a highlighter and highlight every single word you don’t understand. A&P is all about terminology. If you don’t understand the words you’re reading, you simply won’t understand the concepts in the chapter.
  5. List each unknown word on the front of an index card and look up its definition in the book’s glossary or on the Internet. Write out the definition on the back of the index card. Yes, this is time consuming, but it’s essential to mastering the content.
  6. Now, read through your flash cards twice so you are familiar with the words in the 10 pages of reading.
  7. Read through the 10 pages you have marked with paper clips. Don’t take notes, just read for comprehension of the material.
  8. Give yourself a study break.
  9. Mark the next 10-page section of reading and repeat the process until you have completed the reading assignment.

If you have a subscription to ABMP Exam Coach, you can use the features of the program to prepare for reading your chapter and cut your study time in half. In this case, follow these directions:

  1. Identify the subject and topic in ABMP Exam Coach that corresponds to your reading assignment.
  2. Click on the terminology tab in the corresponding subject and topic.
  3. Click on each term and read the definition and listen to the audio pronunciation. Repeat the pronunciation out loud and then move onto the next term. When you reach the end of the term list, go back to the top and repeat the process. Work through the terms at least twice to anchor the information. You will save huge amounts of time because you don’t have to identify terms and write out terminology flash cards.
  4. Mark the first 10 pages of the assigned reading with paper clips. Place one paper clip on the first page of the reading and one paper clip on the tenth page of the reading.
  5. In this 10-page section, carefully look at every illustration and read the caption associated with the illustration. Don’t worry that you don’t yet have a framework for understanding the illustration. Just let your eyes absorb the image. It will improve your comprehension of content when you read the material. 
  6. In this 10-page section, read all of the headings and subheadings to familiarize yourself with the structure of the content. This is almost like building a shelving unit in your brain where you will place details of the content later.
  7. Read through the 10 pages you have marked with paper clips. Don’t take notes, just read for comprehension of the material.
  8. Give yourself a study break.
  9. Mark the next 10-page section of reading and repeat the process until you have completed the reading assignment.

You now have a good frame of reference for upcoming lectures. Don’t forget, the key is terminology. If you know the words, you’ll do well on quizzes and exams. It’s that simple.

Essential Method 2: Capture the Right Information in Your Notes

When you approach each body system, you want to think “big picture,” then “small picture,” then “big picture.” First, you want to get an overall feel for a system’s structure and overall function. Then, you want to look carefully at each organ, at the location and components of that organ, and at the organ’s function and how this contributes to the system’s function.  

Follow these steps:

  1. Download the A&P Graphic Organizer from the Picked Fresh section of this newsletter.
  2. Gather the information necessary to complete a first draft of the graphic organizer using a textbook or notes from classes.
  3. List each structure and provide a concise definition. Next, list a fact or component about that structure. For example, if you are working on the integumentary system you might fill in:
    1. Structure: Skin
    2. Definition: The outermost covering of the body composed of three layers
    3. Fact or part: Epidermis
    4. Description: The outermost layer composed of five sub-layers
    5. Fact or part: Dermis
    6. Description: The layer under the epidermis composed of two sub-layers
    7. Fact or part: Hypodermis
    8. Description: Innermost layer also called subcutaneous layer

In some anatomy programs, you may be required to know the sub-layers of the epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis. In this case, fill in each of these layers as an independent structure in the next section of the form. For example:

  1. Structure: Epidermis
  2. Definition: The outermost epithelial layer of the skin
  3. Fact or part: Stratum corneum
  4. Description: The outer layer of the epidermis consisting of dead cells filled with keratin

Use as many pages as necessary to capture the information you need to know. Then, fill in the key functions of the system. For example, you might write:

  1. Function: Protection
  2. Notes: The skin is waterproof and resistant to many chemical and bacteria. It also protects against radiation damage from the sun
  3. Function: Thermal regulation
  4. Notes: The skin helps regulate body temperature via the capillaries, sweat glands, and fat

When you have completely captured the information you need, rewrite the graphic organizer to ensure you have a clean, neat, well-organized form. This practice is like “cleaning up your brain.” When you rewrite the form and ensure the proper organization of content, you also anchor the information in your long-term memory so that it is easier to retrieve when you need it (like when you take a quiz).

If you have a subscription to ABMP Exam Coach, you can use the features of the program to test your comprehension and prepare for classroom quizzes. Simply choose the appropriate subject and topic and work through the flash cards in the topic. When you have worked through the flash cards, take a practice quiz to test your comprehension. You can take unlimited quizzes to identify areas of weakness and ensure you know the content related to a particular topic. And, ABMP Exam Coach is fun, so you’ll enjoy your study sessions more!