Anatomy for the NUS Medical Student

Anatomy for Medical Students

Overview	Textbooks and References	Ten-year series, OSCEs, Tests
Introduction Syllabus Timetable Examination Tips	Textbooks Booklist Lifern's notes [1.2MB,MS Word] Lifern's notes - Head & Neck [0.7MB] [Lifern's Notes from Ooi Pei Ling] Online references NUS Anatomy Pots [No longer available] NUS Histonet [Pics, 600+, labelled] Larsen's Embryology [Animations]	Past Year Questions MBBS TYS Essay Qns 88-97 (MS Word) MBBS 2000 Pro Online Quizes Texas Tech Gross Anat Spots [Spots, 1000+ pictures, Topical]
		Contributors:

Anaesthesia

Anatomy

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Introduction

Category of subject: Preclinical
Duration of posting: Entire Year 1
Final examination: End of Year 1 (1st Professional MBBS)
Comments:
  Anatomy is one of the 3 main topics in 1st year medical school (the other 2 being Biochemistry and Physiology), and yes, you do have to dissect a corpse. Of the 3 first year subjects, this is the one needing the most rote-memorization (in my opinion at least), but also the most structured. It tends to take up the most time of the 3 first year subjects, usually produces the most number of first year vivas and re-exams, but also the most number of distinctions.
  It is divided by body systems, and there is a test after each system. Neuroanatomy is now taught separately in Year 2 since about 1998, but will be covered here.
  It is especially relevant to those of you aspiring to become surgeons, though much of the fine print is less useful in the clinical years. Pay particular attention to the sections labelled "Applied" or "Clinical" anatomy.
  The tutors are a mixed-lot, from the eccentric to the amusing to the dedicated, but generally a nice bunch. I may have forgotten much of my anatomy, but I remember the Alpha-Romeos, the neuroanatomy models, and eating char-siew rice after dissection lesson.

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Syllabus

Official syllabus available?: No
1)Gross anatomy
- Head & Neck (2 questions), Upper limb, Thorax, Abdomen, Back & Spine(No question), Pelvis & Perineum, Lower Limb
- 1 essay question each (subject to change) in the final essay paper.
2)Histology
- This "normal" microscopy forms the basis for pathology slide sessions, but honestly, by the time year 4 pathology exam comes around, nobody can remember anything. At least try to remember the basics such as the basic cell types, blood vessels and so on.
- 2 essay questions.
3)Embryology
- This explains how the fetus develops: useful in studying anatomy, but not very useful for clinical years (except perhaps in some cancers and neonatal heart conditions).
- 1 essay question.
4)Neuroanatomy
- Now taught in year 2 together with Neurophysiology.
- And tested at the end of first semester Year 2.
- Previously 2 essay question, but may have additional question "hijacked" from gross anatomy (eg Innervation of the bladder).

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Timetable

Teaching methods:
Lecture - Gross Anatomy, Embryology
Tutorial, Problem based learning
Practical - Gross Anatomy(Dissection), Histology

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Examinations

Breakdown of marks
- Official breakdown available?: No.
- Continual assessment %:Unknown, probably 20-40%.
Final exam
- !!NB!!: Information pertaining to 1997(!) exam.
- Timing: End of year 1 (Late April - Early May)
- Papers:
(1)MCQ (1 hour, 40x5 True/False) (26 April 1997)
(2)Spots (50 Pots/Slides, 1 min each) (26 April 1997, after MCQ)
(3)Essay paper (3 hours, 12 questions) (28 April 1997)
(4)Viva (Pass/Fail or Distinction only) (5 May 1997)
- Weightage: Weightage of various components above variable. Supposedly, they mark the papers, then increase the weightage of the paper most people "scored" in (usually spots). Still, essay weightage will be highest.
Contributes only to First Professional MBBS.

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Booklist

Primary textbook(choose 1 from each section)
Gross Anatomy:
(1)Clinical Anatomy for Medical Students (Snell) - Structured, nice diagrams, good bit about applied anatomy.
(2)Clinically Orientated Anatomy(Keith Moore) - Easier to read, if a bit longwinded. Nicer pictures and drawings.
(3)Human Anatomy(Chaurasia) - Not recommended. Poor diagrams, contradictary info.
(4)Lecture notes: Pre-dissection lectures notes are NOT enough for the exams.
Embrylogy:
(1)Human Embrylogy (William Larsen) - Bigger, nicer pictures, more rambling.
(2)Langman's Medical Embryology - More concise with some clear illustrations.
(3)The developing human (Keith Moore) - Less popular, but good for understanding
Histology:
(1)Functional Histology(Wheater): My old version was good enough, I hear the new one has even nicer pictures and even a CD-ROM!
Neuroanatomy/Neurology:
(1)Neuroanatomy:An illustrated color text(Crossman & Neary) - Easy to read, but too basic.
(2)S K Leong - By the ex-Head of Department himself. Hard to read, but chockfull of information.
(3)Neurology:An illustrated color text(Fuller & Manford) - Good but also too basic.
(4)Neuroanatomy: Basic and clinical(Fitzgerald) - Haven't read it myself.

Reference text
Gross Anatomy:
- Anatomy: Regional and Applied (R J Last): Never used it, too thick.
- Gray's Anatomy: Granddaddy of them all, even thicker than Last's.

Other must-have stuff
Gross Anatomy:
- An Atlas: Netter's (Good diagrams, superb annotation) or Mcminn's (Great photos, good for spots).
- Senior's notes: Lifern's notes - Snell's summarized in a table form.
- Histology photos: Get these from your senior, hopefully a set with good annotations.
- Electron micrograph photocopies: Get from senior, occasionally come out exactly for exam.
- Lab coat(make at medic fair)

Nice-to-have stuff
Gross Anatomy:
- Skeleton: Useful but not essential. $600 for a plastic one
Real ones (half-skeleton + skull) costs $1000, but only way to get them now is from a senior.
- Dissection kit is optional

Revision guides & MCQs
Gross Anatomy:
- Crash Course Anatomy: Didn't have it in my time, but looks good.
- Lifern's notes: After failing almost every class test, managed to memorize this from start to end and pass. :P
MCQS:
- Can't remember any off-hand. Just grab a few from the library and practice.

Book review sites

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Tips

Study tips
Gross Anat lectures are not comprehensive - read up before you got for dissections, and again after.
- Study once through, then do your tutorials from memory, referring back as little as possible. Don�t cheat yourself by just bringing Lifern�s to tutorial and reading from it!
- Visualisation is important - use the dissection, atlas, and museum specimens.
- When answering a question such as �Gross Anatomy of organ/nerve/vessel/etc.), follow the fixed format (eg : For organs : Intro+Location, Shapes & Surfaces, Borders, Parts, Cross-section, Structures to and from the organ, blood supply, lymphatics, nerves, relations, and clinical correlations). This makes it more orderly, and you won�t miss stuff out.
Histology notes are mostly enough, sometimes even in excess of what is required.
- For each organ, memorise its distinctive/identifying feature(s). This is especially important for slide identification.
Embryology takes up only one question in the final paper, and it�s easy to neglect since it doesn�t have tutorials or practicals. Try not to do so, however, as it is a relatively easy subject.
- Don�t go beyond what the lecturer covers - Langman and Larsen both have much more than enough material.
- Embryology involves a time dimension as well, so picture the development of the organ as you study it. Exact times are not required, however, knowing which period development takes place in is useful.
Exam tips
MCQs mean True/False questions. Remember : Correct = +1, Wrong = -1, Blank = 0
- Though you might think guessing is a 50-50 chance, somehow you guess the wrong answer more often. ; - ) But seriously, if you have half a clue, just guess.
Essay questions are usually general and concentrate on the main points/organs, as compared to biochem/physio which can ask smaller/more obscure points.
- This is especially true for gross anat, where more than 50% of the questions usually come direct from Lifern�s.
- Answers in point form are allowed (though continuous prose will gain you more marks).
- Even writing down the headings (eg. �The organ has a blood supply�) will give you marks.
Spots questions come in 2 parts - if you don�t know the 1st, the 2nd is automatically wrong. So make sure you know how to identify the specimens(part 1), so you can make a theoretical statement about it (part 2)
- Therefore, remember identifying features to help you.
- If you don�t know, just guess - no marks deducted for spots.
- Be specific as possible - eg : is it Left or Right?
- Try not to panic when the bell rings and you don�t know. Write something down and move on.

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