The Musculoskeletal System

Oh boy! This module was rugged for me because the last time I took an anatomy class was in high school. I avoided it like a plague. Throughout my undergraduate studies, I told myself I did not need to take these courses because I would have to do so again in medical school. I was right, but I quickly realized I had done myself a disservice. Take that anatomy class as an undergraduate! You will not regret it!

Apart from lecture slides and practice questions, I downloaded the Complete Anatomy app on my iPad. It was a little pricey but worth it in my opinion. The app allows you to select muscles. It also gives you the innervation, blood supply and function of each muscle selected which were heavily tested on the musculoskeletal as well as the lab practical exams I took during my first term. I also used the Netter’s Atlas of Human Anatomy to help me make tables. I would re-write these tables hundreds of times every day. Repetition is key.

YouTube videos were very helpful to me throughout this module! Some of my favorite videos were Dr. James Preddy’s lectures and the Brachial Plexus video by Med School Made Easy. Lucky for me, my professors provided hundreds of practice questions. These questions came from the Gray’s Anatomy Review textbook. I redid questions 2-3 times before the exam. While answering practice questions, try to actively use your body. For me, this helped commit muscle function to memory.

Multiple classmates of mine found that using a dry erase marker to write on themselves made muscles easy for them to remember, but I never did this. Some also watched the Boards and Beyond videos. I think it is important to find what is best for you and stick to what works!