Mnemonic Study Tools

 

 

Investigate and note intuitive relationships between the elements and your own experience. This is called memorizing by association. The relationships don't need to be rational, only memorable (interesting, funny, enjoyable) and inspirational.

 

 

  • Take the first letters of something you're trying to remember and create another acronym for it. For example, the anterior pituitary gland secretes six major hormones: TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone), ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone), FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone), LH (luteinizing hormone), PCR (prolactin), and GH (growth hormone). They're tough to remember, but if you create an acronym out of the first letters of each hormone (e.g., The Actor Fails Like Purple Gnomes), they all become much easier to remember.

 

  • Create a vivid story with the entities involved in what you're trying to remember. Making a story up with Belligerent Bob, Laconic Linda or Intrepid Ingrid can help you remember those tricky vocabulary words.

 

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85 Comments
Added by DeAnna Lynn

To recall the semi(T)endinosus is superficial to the semimembranosus.
T for Top its on Top of the semimembranosus (superficial)
Added by Rachel Sheldon

For the carpal bones, remember "Some Lovers Try Positions They Can't Handle," where the first letter of each word represents a bone in the hand--- scaphoid, lunate, triquetral, pisiform, trapezoid, capitate and hamate.
Added by Joyce Brothers

For the bones in the cranium, where "PEST OF" are the first letters of the parietal, ethmoid, sphenoid, temporal, occipital and frontal bones.
Added by Nancy Nelson

The two Semi's go together, Semimembranosus and Semitendonosus.

The Membranosus is Medial and since the two semis go together, Semitendonosus is also medial.

Therefore, Biceps Femoris has to be lateral.
Added by Nancy Nelson

The two Semi's go together, Semimembranosus and Semitendonosus.

The Membranosus is Medial and since the two semis go together, Semitendonosus is also medial.

Therefore, Biceps Femoris has to be lateral.
Added by Steven Markis

Elbow: which side has common flexor origin

FM (as in FM Radio):

Flexor Medial, so Common Flexor Origin is on the medial side.
Added by Sue Mathews

Lumbricals action

Lumbrical action is to hold a pea, that is to flex the metacarpophalangeal joint and extend the interphalangeal joints. When look at hand in this position, can see this makes an "L" shape, since L is for Lumbrical.
Added by Danny Thompson

Serratus anterior: innervation and action

"C5-6-7 raise your wings up to heaven":
C567 injury causes inability to raise arm past 90 degrees up to heaven, and results in a winging of the scapula.

· Long thoracic nerve roots (567) innervate Serratus anterior.
Added by Arron Taylor

Bicipital groove: attachments of muscles near it

"The lady between two majors":

Teres major attaches to medial lip of groove.

Pectoralis major to lateral lip of groove.

Latissimus (Lady) is on floor of groove, between the 2 majors.
Added by Beverly Simmons

Rotator cuff muscles
"The SITS muscles": Clockwise from top:

Supraspinatus
Infraspinatus
Teres minor
Subscapularis

· A pro baseball pitcher has injured his rotator cuff muscles. As a result, he SITS out for the rest of the game, and then gets sent to the minor leagues.
Added by Brooke Moore

Oblique muscles: direction of externals vs. internals
"Hands in your pockets":
When put hands in your pockets, fingers now lie on top of external obliques and fingers point their direction of fibers: down and towards midline.
· Note: "oblique" tells that must be going at an angle.
· Internal obliques are at right angles to external.
Added by Desiree O'Connenell

Pterygoid muscles: function of lateral vs. medial
"Look at how your jaw ends up when saying first syllable of 'Lateral' or 'Medial' ":
"La": your jaw is now open, so Lateral opens mouth.
"Me": your jaw is still closed, so medial closes the mandible.
Added by Mike Andrews

Flexor digitorum muscles: how they insert onto fingers
· A little rhyme:
Superficialis Splits in two,
To Permit Profundus Passing through.
Added by Susan Tackerman

Brachioradialis: function, innervation, one relation, one attachment
BrachioRadialis:
Function: Its the Beer Raising muscle, flexes elbow, strongest when wrist is oriented like holding a beer.
Innervation: Breaks Rule: it's a flexor muscle, But Radial. (Radial nerve usually is for extensors: Recall BEST rule: B was for brachioradialis).
Important relation: Behind it is the Radial nerve in the cubital fossa.
Attachment: Attaches to Bottom of Radius.
Added by Joyce Brothers

Extensor expansion location in the hand
The eXtensor eXpansion is on the proXimal phalynX.
Added by Paula Kins

Elbow: muscles that flex it
Three B's Bend the elBow:
Brachialis
Biceps
Brachioradialis
Added by Amber Turner

Soleus vs. gastrocnemius muscle function
"Stand on your Soles. Explosive gas":
You stand on soles of your shoes, so Soleus is for posture.
Gasoline is explosive, so Gastrocnemius is for explosive movement.
Added by Beth Anne Campell

Inversion vs. eversion muscles in leg
Second letter rule for inversion/eversion:
· Eversion muscles:
pErineus longus
pErineus brevis
pErineus terius
· Inversion muscles:
tIbialis anterior
tIbialis posterior
Added by Phillip Parker

Supination vs. pronation: which is more powerful
Screws were designed to be tightened well by majority of people.

"Righty tighty": to tighten screws you turn to the right.
Majority of people are right-handed.

Turning right-hand to the right is supination.
Added by Daniel Evens

Abdominal muscles
"Spare TIRE around their abdomen":
Transversus abdominis
Internal abdominal oblique
Rectus abdominis
External abdominal oblique
Added by Andrew Davis

Plantarflexion vs. dorsiflexion
Plantar flexion occurs when you squish a Plant with your foot.
Added by Lee Young

Adductor magnus innervation
"AM SO!":
Adductor Magnus innervated by Sciatic and Obturator.
Added by Anitrina Yang

nterior forearm muscles: superficial group
There are five, like five digits of your hand.
Place your thumb into your palm, then lay that hand palm down on your other arm, as shown in diagram.
Your 4 fingers now show distribution: spells PFPF [pass/fail, pass/fail]:
Pronator teres
Flexor carpi radialis
Palmaris longus
Flexor carpi ulnaris
Your thumb below your 4 fingers shows the muscle which is deep to the other four: Flexor digitorum superficialis.
Added by Ryne Reminston

Interossei muscles: actions of dorsal vs. palmar in hand
"PAd and DAb":
The Palmar Adduct and the Dorsal Abduct.
· Use your hand to dab with a pad.
Added by Jill Hamilton

Extrinsic muscles of tongue [for pro soccer fans]
"Paris St. Germain's Hour":
Palatoglossus
Styloglossus
Genioglossus
Hyoglossus
· PSG is a French soccer team (foreign), hence extrinsic comes to mind.
Added by Cindy Bias

Serratus anterior: innervation
SALT:
Serratus Anterior = Long Thoracic.
Added by Scott clark

Intrinsic muscles of hand (palmar surface)
"A OF A OF A":
· Thenar, lateral to medial:
Abductor pollicis longus
Opponens pollicis
Flexor pollicis brevis
Adductor pollicis.
· Hypothenar, lateral to medial:
Opponens digiti minimi
Flexor digiti minimi
Abductor digiti minimi
Added by Scott clark

Hip: lateral rotators
"Piece Goods Often Go On Quilts":
Piriformis
Gemellus superior
Obturator internus
Gemellus inferior
Obturator externus
Quadratus femoris
Added by Nancy Cox

Erector spinae muscles
"I Love Sex":
· From lateral to medial:
Iliocostalis
Longissimus
Spinalis
· Alternatively: "I Long for Spinach"
· "Sex" helps you think of "Erector", but "Long" and "Spinach" help you remember the muscles' names.
Added by Tammy Hall

Hip: lateral rotators
"Play Golf Or Go On Quaaludes":
· From top to bottom:
Piriformis
Gemellus superior
Obturator internus
Gemellus inferior
Obturator externus
Quadratus femoris
· Alternatively: "P-GO-GO-Q".
Added by Tim howard

Psoas major: innervation
If you hit L2, 3, 4
Psoas gets sore!
Added by August Colton

Muscles: potentially absent ones
· Muscles which may be absent but may be important:
5 P's:
Palmaris longus [upper limb]
Plantaris [lower limb]
Peroneus tertius [lower limb]
Pyramidalis [anterior abdominal wall]
Psoas minor [posterior abdominal wall]
Added by Karen Reed

Leg: anterior muscles of leg
"The Hospitals Are Not Dirty Places":
T: Tibialis anterior
H: extensor Hallucis longus
A: anterior tibial Artery
N: deep fibular Nerve
D: extensor Digitorum longus
P: Peronius tertius [aka fibularis tertius]
Added by Lee Young

Eye rotation by oblique muscles
"I Love S&M":
Inferior oblique: Lateral eye rotation.
Superior oblique: Medial eye rotation.
Added by Kathy Anderson

Biceps brachii muscle: origins
"You walk shorter to a street corner. You ride longer on a superhighway.":
· Short head originates from coracoid process.
· Long head originates from the supraglenoid cavity.
Added by Jill Hamilton

Erector spinae muscles
"I Like Standing":
· From lateral to medial
Illiocostalis
Longissimus
Spinalis
Added by Jim Miller

Lower limb peripheral nerve injurys
"Drop into a DEeP PIT and shuffle your way out":
Foot Drop results from Dorsiflexors and Evertors paralysis, due to common Peroneal nerve lesion.
Plantarflexion and Inversion impairment due to Tibial nerve lesion, results in a shuffling gait.
Added by Kim Lee

Supination vs. pronation
"SOUPination": Supination is to turn your arm palm up, as if you are holding a bowl of soup.
"POUR-nation": Pronation is to turn your arm with the palm down, as if you are pouring out whatever is your bowl.
· Alternatively, Pronation donation: Pronation is palm facing downward, as if making a donation.
Added by Emily Brown

Popliteal fossa: medial to lateral arrangment
"Serve And Volley Next Ball":
Semimembranosus/ Semitendonosus
Artery
Vein
Nerve
Biceps femoris
· Lateral and medial heads of Gastrocnemius are inferior borders.
Added by Andrw DAvis

Erector spinae muscles: order
Spinalis is on the spine (most medial).
Iliocostalis is on the ribs (most lateral).
And it's a Long (Longissimus) way between the spine and the ribs!
Added by Joyce Brothers

Femoral triangle: boundaries
"So I May Always Love Sally":
Superiorly: Inguinal ligament
Medially: Adductor longus
Laterally: Sartorius
Added by Shelly Miles

Pes anserinus: component tendons
"Some God*amned Tendon":
· From medial to lateral:
Sartorius
Gracilis
Semitendinosus
Added by Ellen Mathews

Lower limb: muscles between upper legs
"There's a GAP between upper legs when you sit without closing your knees":
Gastrocnemious
Adductors
Pectinious
Added by Glen Talley

Muscles of respiration
"Don't Exercise In Quicksand":
Diaprahm
External intercostals
Internal intercostals
Quadratus
Added by Donna Chesney

Deltoid: proximal attachments
Deltoid CLASPs:
Clavicle, Acromion and Spine of the scapula.
Added by Terese Cannon

Femoral triangle: boundaries
"Femoral triangle is shaped like a SAIL":
Sartorius
Aductor longus
Inguinal Ligament
Added by Steven Markis

Intrinsic muscles of hand (palmar surface)
"All For One And One For All":
· Thenar:
Abductor pollicis longus
Flexor pollicis brevis
Opponens pollicis
Adductor pollicis.
· Hypothenar:
Opponens digiti minimi
Flexor digiti minimi
Abductor digiti minimi
Added by Tom Mullins

arpal bones: trapezium vs. trapezoid location
· Since there's two T's in carpal bone mnemonic sentences, need to know which T is where:
TrapeziUM is by the thUMB, TrapeziOID is inSIDE.
· Alternatively, TrapeziUM is by the thUMB, TrapezOID is by its SIDE.
Added by Amber Smith

Medial malleolus: order of tendons, artery, nerve behind it
"Tom, Dick, And Nervous Harry":
· From anterior to posterior:
Tibialis
Digitorum
Artery
Nerve
Hallicus
· Full names for these are: Tibialis Posterior, Flexor Digitorum Longus, Posterior Tibial Artery, Posterior Tibial Nerve, Flexor Hallicus Longus.
· Alternatively: "Tom, Dick ANd Harry".
· Alternatively: "Tom, Dick And Not Harry".
Added by Sarah Temple

Tibia vs. fibula: which is lateral
The FibuLA is LAteral.
Added by Dan Andrews

Hip posterior dislocation: most likely arrangement for one
"Hitting the brake pedal before the accident":
You are sitting, so hip is flexed, and adducted and medially rotated so can move your foot away from the gas pedal over to the brake pedal.
· Note: car accidents are most likely cause of posterior dislocation because in this position.
Added by Anne Michaels

Rib costal groove: order of intercostal blood vessels and nerve
VAN:
· From superior to inferior:
Vein
Artery
Nerve
Added by Caren Comikea

Vertebrae: recognizing a thoracic from lumbar
Examine vertebral body shape:
Thoracic is heart-shaped body since your heart is in your thorax.
Lumbar is kidney-bean shaped since kidneys are in lumbar area.
Added by Donny Tebeubs

Wrist: radial side vs. ulnar side
Make a fist with your thumb up in the air and say "Rad!".
Your thumb is now pointing to your Radius.
· Note: 'Rad!' was a late 80's catchphrase, short for 'Radical'. Things that were good were called 'Rad'.
Added by Tom Schatjer

Carpal bone having the hook
The Hamate has the Hook.
Added by Nan Fanning

Cranial bones
"PEST OF 6":
Parietal
Ethmoid
Sphenoid
Temporal
Occipital
Frontal
Added by Tammy Sluss

Joints in the midline
"SC":
In medial line, below Second Cervical, joints are Secondary Cartilaginous and usually have a diSC.
· Notes: secondary cartilaginous is also known as symphysis. The one that doesn't have a disc is xiphi-sternal.
Added by Martin Aspen

Menisci attachments in knee
"Each meniscus has something attached to it":
The medial meniscus has the medial collateral ligament.
The lateral meniscus is attached to the popliteal muscle.
Added by Sam Wang

Scottish Lads Take Prostitutes To The Caledonian Hotel":
· Proximal row, then distal row:
Scaphoid
Lunate
Triquetrium
Pisiform
Trapezium
Trapezoid
Capate
Hamate
· Alternatively: "Students Like Taking Prostitutes To The Carelton Hotel".
Added by Sam Wang

Carpal bones
"She Looks Too Pretty; Try To Catch Her":
· Proximal row then distal row, both lateral-to-medial:
Scaphoid
Lunate
Triquetrium
Pisiform
Trapezium
Trapezoid
Capate
Hamate
· Alternatively: "She Likes To Play; Try To Catch Her".
Added by Sam Wang

Carpal bones
"Some Lovers Try Positions That They Can't Handle":
· Proximal row then distal row, both lateral-to-medial:
Scaphoid
Lunate
Triquetrium
Pisiform
Trapezium
Trapezoid
Capate
Hamate
· Alternatively: "Scared Lovers..."
· Alternatively: "Senior Lecturers...".
Added by Sam Wang

Carpal bones
"Happy Cat Tom Took Pie To Little Sister":
Hamate
Capitate
Trapezoid
Trapezium
Pisiform
Triquital
Lunate
Scaphoid
Added by Sam Wang

Facial bones
"Virgil Can Not Make My Pet Zebra Laugh!":
Vomer
Conchae
Nasal
Maxilla
Mandible
Palatine
Zygomatic
Lacrimal
Added by Sam Wang

Carpal bones
"Stop Letting Those People Touch The Cadaver's Hand":
· Proximal row, lateral-to-medial:
Scaphoid
Lunate
Triquetrum
Pisiform
· Distal row, lateral-to-medial:
Trapezium
Trapezoid
Capitate
Hamate
Added by Charlie Brown

Carpum and tarsum
"SCIT":
(Artum) Superior Carpum
(Artum) Inferior Tarsum
Added by Sam Wang

Cranial bones
"Fraternity Parties Occasionally Teach Spam Etiquette":
· The first two letters of each bone:
Frontal
Parietal
Occipital
Temporal
Sphenoid
Ethmoid
Added by Sam Wang

Carpal bones
"The boat sailed to the moon with 3 pEas in a rOw, at the wheel was Captain Hook":
· Carpal bones in order of occurrence:
Boat is scaphoid. Moon is lunate. 3 is triquetrum. Peas is pisiform (stressing the E sound for trapezium). Row is trapezoid (stressing the O for trapezOid). Captain is capitate. Hook is hamate (hamate has the hook).
Added by Sam Wang

Tarsal tunnel: contents
"Tiny Dogs Are Not Hunters":
· From superior to inferior:
T: Tibialis posterior
F: flexor Digitorum longus
A: posterior tibial Artery
N: tibial Nerve
H: flexor Hallucis longus
Added by Sam Wang

Carpal bones
"These Things Can Happen. Sensible Lovers Take Precautions":
· Distal to proximal:
Trapezium
Trapezoid
Capitate
Hamate
Scaphoid
Lunate
Triquetrum
Pisiform
Added by Kim Nelson

Vetebrae subtypes
"Certain Doctors Luv Saddling Coeds":
· From superior to inferior:
Cervical
Dorsal
Lumbar
Sacrum
Coccyx
Added by Lisa Devens

Tarsal bones
"Traverse City (is) Noted (for) MIchigan's Lovely Cherries":
Talus
Calcaneus
(new row)
Navicular
(new row)
Medial Intermediate cuneiforms
Lateral cuneiform
Cuboid
Added by Pam Season

Arm fractures: nerves affected by humerus fracture location
ARM fracture:
· From superior to inferior:
Axillary: head of humerus
Radial: mid shaft
Median: supracondular
Added by Tim Howardson

Elbow joint: radius vs. ulna ends
CRAzy TULips:
Capitalum = RAdius
Trochlear = ULnar
Added by Mandy Henrey

Elbow joint: capitulum vs. trochlea
CUTER:
Capitulum: Ulnar
Trochlea: Radial
Added by Jessy Swift

Wrist: radial side vs. ulnar side
"I cut off my thumb with a radial saw!":
The radius is on the thumb side of the arm
Added by Janet Summers

Tibia vs. fibula: sizes
The Fibula is thin like a Flute.
The Tibia is thick like a Tuba.
Added by Linda Novcak

Cervical vertebra: landmarks at each level
"NoaH Told MariaH To Try Cervical Counting":
Nose (base), Hard palate: C1
Teeth: C2
Mandible, Hyoid bone: C3
Thyroid cartilage (upper): C4
Thyroid cartilage (lower): C5
Cricoid cartilage: C6
Cricoid cartilage (just below): C7
Added by Sue Sumners

Supination vs. pronation
Supination: palm to the Sun
Pronation: palm to the Plants.
Added by Andy Rodney

Skull bones
"STEP OF 6 "
· The 6 skull bones are:
Sphenoid
Temporal
Ethmoid
Parietal
Occipital
Frontal
· Alternatively: "STEP OFf my skull".
Added by Shannon Wesson

Tarsal bones of ankle
"Tiger Cubs Need MILC":
Superior, then clockwise on right foot:
Talus
Calcaneus
Navicular
Medial cuneiform
Intermediate cuneiform
Lateral cuneiform
Cuboid
Added by DeAnna Lynn

How many cervical, thoracic and lumbar vertebrae are there?

Breakfast at 7, Lunch at 12, and dinner at 5
Added by DeAnna Lynn

The femoral triangle is an anatomical region of the upper inner human thigh

The femoral triangle is shaped like the sail of a ship.

Its boundaries can be remembered using the mnemonic,

"SAIL" for Sartorius, Adductor longus and Inguinal Ligament
Added by DeAnna Lynn

The strongest muscle in the body relative to size is the Masseter.

The bulkiest muscle in the body is the gluteus maximus.

The longest muscle is the sartorius

The widest is the external oblique
Added by Sue Mathews

The common memory jogs, which help to remind in what order the phases are:

Wood feeds Fire;
Fire creates Earth (ash);
Earth bears Metal;
Metal carries Water
(as in a bucket or tap, or water condenses on metal);
Water nourishes Wood.
Added by Dana Kelm

My study suggestions go as follows

1 prepare
2 rest
3 eat small meals
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