Is it feel impossible to remember the irrational names in Veterinary anatomy? Or you just want to become more efficient in your subject. This blog post is for you. Read all the points carefully so that you can be a “Grade-A” student.
Page Contents
What is Veterinary Anatomy? (Basics)
In elementary terms it is defined as “The science that deals with the form and structure of animals”. Every living being around us have a defined structure and here we are talking about its detailed study! (see definition)
Let me ask you a simple question!
How many bones are there in your dog or cat? Or do you know, cats and dogs have 12 pair of cranial nerves like humans!!…If you don’t remember the answers, then you should use these 10 tips to remember things for long terms.
Do you agree that, a vet should have the knowledge of the Anatomical structure of the area, before giving an injection? Shouldn’t he be able to identify the veins or artery where I/V injections is to be administered?
If that’s a yes, then you can see the importance of veterinary anatomy in a vet’s life! Congratulations to you.
Ok! so you are going to study, but don’t waste your time with conventional study methods, instead try these scientifically proven efficiently tricks for your studies.
Why study Veterinary Anatomy?
Veterinary anatomy is an important subject in Vet College. There would be no veterinarian who can deny its role. It is a cosmopolitan subject, that’s why everybody will tell you to do focus on it.
The subject contain “principle topics” like Bones, Muscles, Nerves, Heart, Lungs, Kidneys, Embryo Development . Understanding of all these organs are crucial when you are dealing with someone’s life.
Can you learn the gynaecology without having Anatomical knowledge of uterus? Can you decode the mechanisms of respiration without knowing the thickness of alveoli?
In field condition when you have to palpate the pulse of dog, where would you find the femoral artery?
I think you got the point of why, by now!!
Level of difficulty?
Veterinary anatomy is a difficult subject indisputably. The names of the bones and vessels can put anyone to sleep. It is even considered as the hardest subject in first year!
The syllabus is vast and puzzling. As a survivor I can assure you that you cannot remember everything you study. Even, it will be a miracle, if you could remember all the important stuff!
So what can you do about it?
Well, don’t lose hope so easily!
We have top 10 tips to study and learn veterinary anatomy “efficiently”. This guide will come in handy for surviving your tough days in Vet College! Best of luck guys!
scroll down to find the answers you were hoping to find.
10 Premium learning Tips
1. Start Early
If you start studying early, then you’re setting yourself up for success. We’ve all been there one week before Anatomy exams and panicking because there is so much to review and so little time – that’s when you wish you started earlier. Instead of cursing yourself during last moments, you should start preparing early. This means you need to find the motivation to set time to study and review your notes, without procrastinating until the last minute.
2. Practice By Repetition
The more you go over something, the more likely you will remember it. The only way to memorize all the different anatomical structures and their functions is to repeat, repeat, and you guessed it, repeat. Many students prefer writing names again and again. You can try few tricks and see for yourself – what worked best for you!
3. Schedule your study
This is the only thing that can make your life easier right before exams. We all know how stressful it is trying to cram in all the material, just one week before exams. It’s very tiring, stressful, and frankly ineffective. You can probably learn the material for short term but it will be on no use during long term. Even in the exam you will find it difficult to answer the questions.
The way to avoid the issue with cramming is to make studying a habit and continuously review the material. You can procrastinate for a few day but don’t cross the limit. You can use google calendar in your mobile phone for this purpose.
Schedule your study
4. Use mnemonics
Trying to memorize all the anatomical structures can be a daunting task! There is many words who doesn’t have any meaning associate with them. Our brain cannot remember unconnected information. So actively make connection between them by using mnemonics.
You can follow our page on Instagram (@royal_vetclub) which contain numerous mnemonics.
5. Take Clear Notes
Taking notes will help you remember the material, try to take notes in the class. Writing notes down on paper increases your chances of retaining the information. Make sure to write the notes in your own words. You can recall information better this way!
6. Use Your Artistic Soul
As mentioned earlier, try redrawing anatomical structure and annotate them with facts and features. Wake-up your artistic soul for that. When you draw creative diagrams using different colours, there are higher chances that your brain will remember them. Our brain is good with diagram than text. Try to review your diagram again and again. You can hang the diagrams and charts around the room on the walls to visualize the bigger picture.
7. Try Different Techniques
Sometimes, it is good to switch things up and use different study techniques to remember the material. If you read the textbooks, use flashcards, try mnemonics and study visual diagrams, you will be more likely to remember and understand the material than if you only read textbooks. Drawing anatomical structure will surely help! Repetition in different forms of study techniques makes studying more effective.
8. Quiz Yourself
Active recall is by far is the most effective technique when it comes to learning. Test your knowledge by taking quizzes. Try to simulate what the exam questions will be like, and make sure you are prepared for the real deal. You can create the quiz questions with your friends (group study) or use pre-existing quiz material online or provided by your teacher.
9. Groups study
For some people studying in group is really effective. Here are some of the benefits of group studying:
- A small quiz with buddies can help you retain information
- Areas of weakness can be identified easily.
- Peer teaching has been found in studies to be very effective in helping retain material.
- Having a study group can also motivated you to study and keep you accountable.
10. Utilize Different Resources
There are actually a lot of resources available for you that will make your studying endeavors easier. As mentioned in tip #7, make sure to switch up not only the study methods, but also the resources you’re using to maximize you studying effectiveness and really reinforce the concepts. Some resources you can take advantage of include your textbook, class handouts and lab material your professor provides, also there are many online resources that are accessible by students.
Joining the veterinary community will also help you understand the profession clearly. Explore the internet for the same. Also join our community on Instagram and Facebook.
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Have a nice Day!