Everybody loves learning the Skull
This subject is split over two different departments and it is taught in different ways. Since I only know one department I can only write about that one so, this will be applicable for students starting in 2015 and every 2nd year after. However the theory is the same for each, mostly.
This subject is one of the big three in fist year and it is huge. The amount of information that needs to be memorised can be daunting but is it doable. Breaking things into small pieces and using logic will help considerably
I will add another page for the other department when I know someone who did it.
This semester focuses on the study of the whole arm (everything up to the shoulder), the leg (everything up to the pelvis), the spine (just the bones) and the skull (just the bones)
How to pass
Do not leave the memorisation until just before the exam, there is too much information for this
Memorise as much as you can weekly, you may forget things but it will make your revision easier
Using Netter's Anatomy Flash Cards really helped me learn the basics and improved my identification skills, there are just a base though, you will need to know a lot more than is printed on the cards
Some things don't need to be memorised, use logic, for example, forearm muscles are generally named after what they do
Make up silly names or stories for things to memorise
Quiz each other every now and again
The Thieme handbook for locomotion is great to refer to in the dissection rooms
Dissect as much as possible, some things are easier to identify with touch rather than sight, for example, veins and nerves
Try to get a real skull, it is a very complicated part of the anatomy and the plastic replicas are just not detailed enough. I managed with a plastic model but had to use it more as a guide with the atlases than a definitive studying tool
Do not learn more then the subject requires at that time, chances are the examiners will not give you any extra credit and you may forget things you need to know. This subject takes two years, you will learn everything eventually
Answer the question only, if more details are requires the examiner will ask
If you are not sure don't rush trying the identify anything, you have no time limit, assess the structure and locate origins, insertions and what is next to it, this will help you avoid making mistakes and explaining the process shows the examiner you know what you are talking about
Not everything asked may be present in your samples, but knowledge of where is should be is required
If your teacher gives you hand-outs, share them with other groups and get them to send you their as well. Due to the enormous amount of material, some key details could be missed by your own teacher, by referencing with other groups you will avoid this
Go to the consultations with someone who really knows what they are talking about, it is a great time to practise but no teacher will be there the tell you if you are right or not
Go to the lectures, make notes of the minor details, they could be asked on the tests
Go to all the histology labs, it may me your only chance to fully understand the slides
When trying to identify a slide learn a key thing that is unique for that slide and look for it, ask your teacher if you cannot identify one, you will generally be able to tell you. This skill will become more useful in the second semester
Go to Blue Histology and practice identifying slides quickly
The electron microscope slides will be available to be seen on the subject's website before the test, view them and make sure you can identify key structures and know what they do
Embryology written questions generally be labelling diagrams but oral theory questions can be asked at any point in the oral exams
Most of the diagrams come form Langman's Medical Embryology
The exams
3 midterms:
1 Cell biology:
30 short questions
1 Anatomy:
Oral exam about the entire arm
1 Histology:
Written exam with 80 questions on 30ish histology and embryology slides, identification and theory
Each slide is projected to the entire group for a limited amount of time
Semi Final:
3 parts:
Anatomy:
Oral test 3 parts:
Part of the leg, arm, pelvis or spine
1 joint
Skull
Histology:
Oral exam:
2 slides, identification and theory
1 electron microscope image, identification and theory
3 open questions on histology and cell biology theory
Written exam:
2 parts
Embryology questions, diagram labelling
Questions on anything from the semester
All must be passed with more than 50% or a 2, failure at any point will result in retaking the entire test
The difficulties[]
Eat before you first practise in the dissection room, the smell can make you a bit dizzy for the first few times before you get use to it, having a full stomach helped me
The volume of information required to learn
There will always be one moron who does no dissecting and monopolises the teachers attention with test questions. The dissection need to be done so share the responsibility and let everyone ask questions
The semi final can take anywhere from 4 - 8 hours depending on the number of students and the efficiency of the examiners. this can sap your concentration for the final parts of the exam
The difficulty of each exam part is dependant upon the examiner and their knowledge of that particular area
In this department, histology is more focused upon than anatomy
Conclusion
This subject is not difficult to understand, however, the difficulty lies with the amount to learn. Keep on top of the material and this will reduce the revision time for the midterms and the semi final, ideally a week for the midterm and 1 - 2 weeks for the semi final should be enough. Without constant study you will be likey to pass