Medical Terminology Resources on the 'Net
Memory aids for learning medical terminology
Mnemonics (the initial M is silent) is the art of improving or developing the memory.
A mnemonic is a device to make memorization and recall easier.
Learning medical terminology is tough. There are lots of terms to learn, and they often have to be memorized in groups or in a certain order. Because of this medical students and professionals have devised a great many memory aids, or mnemonics, in order to learn them faster and recall them more quickly.
A mnemonic is a device to make memorization and recall easier.
Learning medical terminology is tough. There are lots of terms to learn, and they often have to be memorized in groups or in a certain order. Because of this medical students and professionals have devised a great many memory aids, or mnemonics, in order to learn them faster and recall them more quickly.
Kinds of memory aids
Acrostic: a word or phrase in which each letter is also the first letter of a term.
Example: to learn the cranial bones use "Pest of 6"
Parietal
Ethmoid
Sphenoid
Temporal
Occipital
Frontal
6 - a reminder that there are 6 of them.
An edible kind of memory aid.
Here's one for learning the carpal bones: "Stop Letting Those People Touch The Cadaver's Hand". The first letter of each word is also the first letter of a bone - and all are in a meaningful sequence, as follows.
First, the proximal row, lateral - to - medial:
Scaphoid
Lunate
Triquetrum
Pisiform
Then, the distal row, lateral - to - medial:
Trapezium
Trapezoid
Capitate
Hamate
Another technique is to use alliteration.
Alliteration: a series of words which all begin with the same letter, or contain the same pattern of letters.
Example: "5 P's". The list of 5 potentially absent muscles all begin with P.
5 - a reminder that there are 5 of them
Palmaris longus (upper limb)
Plantaris (lower limb)
Peroneus tertius (lower limb)
Pyramidalis (anterior abdominal wall)
Psoas minor (posterior abdominal wall)
And here's an example of a recurring pattern. This one is based on the pattern B - R.
The Brachioradialis muscle. In addition to its name we must learn ...
a) its function
b) its innervation
c) an important relation
d) its point of attachment
BrachioRadialis:
Function: its the Beer Raising muscle (it flexes the elbow, and is strongest when the wrist is oriented as when holding a beer).
Innervation: Breaks Rule (its a flexor muscle), But Radial (a radial nerve is usually for extensors).
Important relation: Behind it is the Radial nerve in the cubital fossa.
Attachment: attaches to the Bottom of the Radius.
Example: to learn the cranial bones use "Pest of 6"
Parietal
Ethmoid
Sphenoid
Temporal
Occipital
Frontal
6 - a reminder that there are 6 of them.
An edible kind of memory aid.
Here's one for learning the carpal bones: "Stop Letting Those People Touch The Cadaver's Hand". The first letter of each word is also the first letter of a bone - and all are in a meaningful sequence, as follows.
First, the proximal row, lateral - to - medial:
Scaphoid
Lunate
Triquetrum
Pisiform
Then, the distal row, lateral - to - medial:
Trapezium
Trapezoid
Capitate
Hamate
Another technique is to use alliteration.
Alliteration: a series of words which all begin with the same letter, or contain the same pattern of letters.
Example: "5 P's". The list of 5 potentially absent muscles all begin with P.
5 - a reminder that there are 5 of them
Palmaris longus (upper limb)
Plantaris (lower limb)
Peroneus tertius (lower limb)
Pyramidalis (anterior abdominal wall)
Psoas minor (posterior abdominal wall)
And here's an example of a recurring pattern. This one is based on the pattern B - R.
The Brachioradialis muscle. In addition to its name we must learn ...
a) its function
b) its innervation
c) an important relation
d) its point of attachment
BrachioRadialis:
Function: its the Beer Raising muscle (it flexes the elbow, and is strongest when the wrist is oriented as when holding a beer).
Innervation: Breaks Rule (its a flexor muscle), But Radial (a radial nerve is usually for extensors).
Important relation: Behind it is the Radial nerve in the cubital fossa.
Attachment: attaches to the Bottom of the Radius.
Rhymes
Example: Flexor digitorum muscles, how they insert into the fingers.
Superficialis Splits in two,
To Permit Profundis Passing through.
This example also makes use of alliteration: 2 x S in the first line, and 3 x P in the second line.
A past master of rhyming.
Superficialis Splits in two,
To Permit Profundis Passing through.
This example also makes use of alliteration: 2 x S in the first line, and 3 x P in the second line.
A past master of rhyming.
MedicalMnemonics.com (http://www.medicalmnemonics.com/)
This is probably the best resource for medical-related memory aids on the Internet. It's a database of memory aids compiled by medical students. At the present time it contains about 1,000 of them, but new ones are continually being added. Some are accompanied by illustrations.
Search by ...
... a particular systems (such as skeleton or muscles),
... by discipline (such as anatomy or cardiology),
... by knowledge level (1 through 9),
... by G rating (to filter out the ones that are vulgar).
It also includes a browse feature by systems and disciplines (orthopedics, anatomy, interviewing a patient about a particular problem, etc.)
For students who do not have Internet access at home the database can be downloaded onto disc or flash drive and loaded into a home computer. Its free.
Search by ...
... a particular systems (such as skeleton or muscles),
... by discipline (such as anatomy or cardiology),
... by knowledge level (1 through 9),
... by G rating (to filter out the ones that are vulgar).
It also includes a browse feature by systems and disciplines (orthopedics, anatomy, interviewing a patient about a particular problem, etc.)
For students who do not have Internet access at home the database can be downloaded onto disc or flash drive and loaded into a home computer. Its free.
Doctor's hangout (http://www.doctorshangout.com/group/mnemonics?xg_source=activity)
Categories: Anatomy, Behavioral sciences, Biochemistry, Cardiology, Embryology, Emergency medicine, Gastroenterology, Geriatrics, Microbiology, Nephrology, Neurology, Orthopedics, Pediatrics, Pharmacology, Psychiatry, Pulmonology, and Respiratory complications of anesthesia - patients at risk.
An animal which does not need memory aids.
An animal which does not need memory aids.
Medical mnemonics (http://studynow.com/mnemonics/)
Categories include: Anatomy, Cardiology, Endocrine, Neurology, Pathology, Pulmonary, Surgery, Urology.
RxPG online: all medical mnemonics (http://www.rxpgonline.com/allmedicalmnemonics.html)
List is alphatebized (except for the first dozen or so - perhaps the most recent additions?
ValueMD: medical mnemonics (http://www.valuemd.com/mnemonics.php)
Contains the following links: Anatomy, Behavioral science, Biochemistry, Bones, Cardiology, Chemistry, Embryology, Emergency medicine, Gastro-intestinal, Genetics, More mnemonics, Mnemonics by Calvin Lee, Neurology, Pediatrics, Pharmacology, Physiology, Respiratory, Surgery.
Within these categories the mnemonics are in no particular order. Search using "edit - find on this page" function.
Within these categories the mnemonics are in no particular order. Search using "edit - find on this page" function.
