Simple and fun anatomy mnemonics that will make anatomy easier to remember.
| Carpal Bones | “She Looks Too Pretty; Try To Catch Her”
-Scaphoid -Lunate -Triquetrium -Pisiform -Trapezium -Trapezoid -Capate -Hamate |
| Tarsal Bones | “Tiger Cubs Need MILC”
-Talus -Calcaneus -Navicular -Medial cuneiform -Intermediate cuneiform -Lateral cuneiform -Cuboid |
| Axillary Artery Branches | “SomeTimes Life Seems A Pain”
-Superior thoracic artery -Thoracoacromial artery -Lateral thoracic artery -Subscapular -Anterior circumflex humeral artery -Posterior circumflex humeral artery |
| Thoracoacromial Artery Branches | “ABCD”
-Acromial -Breast (pectoral) -Clavicular -Deltoid |
| Contents of Cubital Fossa (medial to lateral) | “MBBR”
-Median nerve -termination of Brachial artery and beginning of radial and ulnar arteries -Biceps tendon -Radial nerve |
| Muscles involved in Elbow flexion | “3 B’s Bend the elbow”
-Biceps -Brachialis -Brachioradialis |
| Elbow: which side has common flexor origin | “FM (as in FM radio)”
-Flexor….Medial |
| Rotator cuff muscles | “SITS”
-Supraspinatus -Infraspinatus -Teres minor -Subscapularis |
| Radial Nerve: Muscle innervated | “Try A Big Chocolate Chip Sundae, Double Dip Cherries And Peanuts Preferrably Included”
-Triceps -Anconeus -Brachioradialis -ext. Carpi radialis longus -ext. Carpi radialis brevis -Supinator -ext. Digitorum -ext. Digiti minimi -ext. Carpi ulnaris -Abductor poll. longus -ext. Poll. brevis -ext. Poll. longus -ext. Indicis |
| Anterior Forearm muscles | superficial group:
“Pimps F*ck Prostitutes For Fun” -Pronator teres -Flexor carpi radialis -Palmaris longus -Flexor carpi ulnaris -Flexor digitorum superficialis deep group: “Fastly F*ck Prostitutes” -Flexor digitorum profundus -Flexor pollicis longus -Pronator quadratus |
| Hand Interossei Muscles Action | “PAD DAB”
-Palmar interossei….ADduct -Dorsal interossei….ABduct |
| Median Nerve: Hand muscles innervated | ” the LOAF muscles”
-Lumbricals 1 and 2 -Opponens pollicis -Abductor pollicis brevis -Flexor pollicis brevis |
| Hand: Nerve Lesions | “DR CUMA”
-Drop….Radial nerve -Claw….Ulnar nerve -Medain nerve….Ape hand |
| Femoral Artery Deep Branches | “Put My Leg Down, Please”
-Profundus femoris -Medial circumflex femoral artery -Lateral circumflex femoral artey -Descending genicular artery -Perforating artery |
| Femoral Traingle contents (lateral to medial) | “NAVEL”
-Nerve: femoral nerve (directly behind the sheath) -Artery: femoral artery (within the sheath) -Vein: femoral vein (within the sheath) -Empty space -Lymphatics: with deep inguinal node |
| Rib Costal Groove | “VAN”: (from superior to inferior)
-Vein -Artery -Nerve |
| Inferior Venacava tributaries | “I LIke To Rise So High”
-Illiacs -Lumbar -Testicular -Renal -Suprarenal -Hepatic vein |
| Lumbar Plexus | “I twice Get Laid On Fridays”
-Iliohypogastric [L1] -Ilioinguinal [L1] -Genitofemoral [L2, L3] -Lateral femoral cutaneous [L2, L3] -Obturator [L2, L3, L4] -Femoral [L2, L3, L4] |
| Scalp Layers | “SCALP”
-Skin -Connective tissue -Aponeurosis -Loose areoolar tissue -Pericranium |
| Scalp Nerve supply | “GLASS”
-Greater occipital/ Greater auricular -Lesser occipital -Auriculotemporal -Supratrochlear -Supraorbital |
| Carotid sheath contents | “I See 10 CC’s in the IV”
-I See (I.C.)= Internal Carotid -10=CN 10 (vagus nerve) -CC= Common Carotid artery -IV= Internal Jugular vein |
| Cavernous Sinus Contents | “O TOM CAt”
-Oculomotor nerve -Trochlear nerve -Opthalmic branch of trigeminal nerve -Maxillary branch of trigeminal nerve -Carotid artery (Internal) -Abducens nerve |
| External Carotid Artery Branches | “Sister Lucis Face Powder Often Attracts Medical Students”
-Superior thyroid -Lingual -Facial -Posterior auricular -Occipital -Ascending pharyngeal -Maxillary -Superficial temporal |
| Subcalvian Artery Branches | “VIT C,D”
-Vertebral -Internal Thoracic -Thyrocervical -Costocervical -Dorsal scapular |
| Branches of Facial Nerve | “Ten Zulus Bought My Cat”
-Temporal -Zygomatic -Buccal -Mandibular -Cervical |
| Extraocular muscles cranial nerve innervation | “LR6 SO4 Rest3”
-Lateral Rectus….6th -Superior Oblique….4th -Rest all….3rd |
| Spleen: Dimensions, weight, surface anatomy | “1,3,5,7,9,11”
Spleen dimension : 1 inch thick * 3 inch wide * 5 inch long Weight : 7 ounces It underlies ribs 9 through 11 |
| Retroperitoneal structures list | “SAD PUCKER”
-Suprarenal glands -Aorta and IVC -Duodenum (half) -Pancreas -Ureters -Colon (ascending and descending) -Kidneys -Esophagus -Rectum |
| Scrotum Layers | “Some Damn Englishman Called It The Testis”
-Skin -Dartos -External spermatic fascia -Cremaster -Internal spermatic fascia -Tunica vaginalis -Testis |
| Sperm pathway through male reproductive tract | “SEVEN UP”
-Semniferous tubules -Epididymis -Vas deferens -Ejaculatory duct -Nothing -Urethra -Penis |
| Spermatic cord contents | “Piles Don’t Contribute To A Good Sex Life”
-Pampiniform plexus -Ductus deferens -Cremasteric artery -Testicular artery -Artery of the ductus deferens -Genital branch of the genitofemoral nerve -Sympathetic nerve fibers -Lymphatic fibers |
| Deep Tendon Reflex: Root supply | ” 1,2 buckle my shoe… 3,4 kick the door…5,6 pick-up sticks…7,8 shut the gate”
-S1,2=ankle jerk -L3,4=knee jerk -C5,6=biceps and brachioradialis -C7,8=Triceps |
| Bronchi: which one is more vertical | “Inhale a bite, goes down the right”:
Inhaled objects more likely to lodge in right bronchus, since it is the one that is more vertical. |
| 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. |
| Buttock quadrant safest for needle insertion | “Shut up and butt out”:
The Upper Outer quadrant of the Buttock safely avoids hitting sciatic nerve. |
| Radial nerve: muscles supplied (simplified) | “BEST muscles”:
Brachioradialis Extensors Supinator Triceps |
| Rib costal groove: order of intercostal blood vessels and nerve | VAN:
From superior to inferior: Vein Artery Nerve |
| Brachial plexus subunits | “Randy Travis Drinks Cold Beer”:
Roots Trunks Divisions Cords Branches Alternatively: “Read The Damn Cadaver Book!” Alternatively: “Real Texans Drink Coors Beer”. |
| Diaphragm innervation | “3, 4, 5 keeps the diaphragm alive”:
Diaphragm innervation is cervical roots 3, 4, and 5. |
| 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. |
| Thoracic duct: relation to azygous vein and esophagus | “The duck between 2 gooses”:
Thoracic duct (duck) is between 2 gooses, azygous and esophagus. |
| 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. |
| Aortic arch: major branch order | “Know your ABC’S”:
Aortic arch gives rise to: Brachiocephalic trunk left Common Carotid left Subclavian � Beware though trick question of ‘What is first branch of aorta?’ Technically, it’s the coronary arteries. |
| Navicular contacts 3 of 5 cuneiform bones | “Navicular is like the Navigator logo”:
There are 3 things coming off each. � See diagram. Therefore, cuboid has to contact 2 of the 5. |
| Trigeminal nerve: where branches exit skull | “Standing Room Only”:
Superior orbital fissure is V1 foramen Rotundum is V2 foramen Ovale is V3 |
| Tonsils: The three types | “PPL (people) have tonsils”:
Pharyngeal Palatine Lingual |
| Ureter to ovarian/testicular artery relation | “Water under the bridge”:
The ureters (which carry water), are posterior to the ovarian/testicular artery. � Clinically important, since a common surgical error is to cut ureter instead of ovarian artery when removing uterus. |
| 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. |
| Duodenum: lengths of parts | “Counting 1 to 4 but staggered”:
1st part: 2 inches 2nd part: 3 inches 3rd part: 4 inches 4th part: 1 inch |
| Murphy’s point organ [for Irish] | “Murphy was an Irishman (and Murphy is a classic Irish surname), and Ireland=green”:
Green organ in body is gallbladder, so Murphy’s point is the gall bladder. |
| Anteflexed vs. anteverted: what bodypart each describes | “Anteflexed and Anteverted both bend toward Anterior”.
� The “V” words go together: Verted is for the cerVix (therefore flexed must be uterus). |
| Foramen spinosum: location on base of skull | Foramen spinosum is adjacent to the spine of sphenoid. |
| 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. |
| Face muscles: large muscle groups’ cranial innervation | Mandibular nerve: Mastication.
Facial nerve: Facial expression. |
| Meckel’s diverticulum details | 2 inches long.
2 feet from end of ileum. 2 times more common in men. 2% occurrence in population. 2 types of tissues may be present. � Note: “di-” means “two”, so diverticulum is the thing with all the twos. |
| Leino- definition | “Leino” rhymes with “spleen-o”:
Therefore leino- means something to do with the spleen. |
| Kidney hilums at transpyloric plane [L1] | L-1 goes through hilum of only 1 kidney, and it’s the Left one. |
| Lung lobe numbers: right vs. left |
Tricuspid heart valve and tri-lobed lung both on the right side. Bicuspid and bi-lobed lung both on the left side. |
| 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. |
| Median nerve: recognizing it in an opened axilla | The Median nerve is the Middle of a giant capital “M” formed by the musculocutaneous and ulnar nerves. |
| Carpal bone having the hook | The Hamate has the Hook. |
| Flexor digitorum muscles: how they insert onto fingers | A little rhyme:
Superficialis Splits in two, To Permit Profundus Passing through. |
| Ulnar nerve to ulnar artery and radial nerve to radial artery relations | Think “peripheral nerves”:
The ulnar nerve is “ulnar” to the ulnar artery. Radial nerve is “radial” to the radial artery. |
| Dermatome C6 location | Stick arm out like crucifixion stance. Curl your thumb and forefinger into an “OK” symbol while keeping your other fingers straight.
Your hand should now look like a 6 shape. So C6 dermatome is your thumb and top of arm (reason for crucifix stance). � See diagram. |
| Brachioradialis: function, innervation, one relation, one attachment | BrachioRadialis:
Function: It’s 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. |
| Diaphram aperatures: spinal levels | “Come Enter the Abdomen:
Vena Cava [8] Esophagus [10] Aorta [12] |
| Extensor expansion location in the hand | The eXtensor eXpansion is on the proXimal phalynX. |
| Elbow: muscles that flex it | Three B’s Bend the elBow:
Brachialis Biceps Brachioradialis |
| Thyroid: isthmus location | “Rings 2,3,4 make the isthmus floor”:
Isthmus overlies tracheal rings 2,3,4 |
| Thoracic duct: which half of upper body does it drain | Know drains all of lower body, but was it the right or the left part of the upper body?
Answer: it’s Lymph from the Left of the upper body. |
| 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. |
| 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 |
| Liver inferior markings showing right/left lobe vs. vascular divisions | There’s a Hepatic “H” on inferior of liver. One vertical stick of the H is the dividing line for anatomical right/left lobe and the other vertical stick is the divider for vascular halves. Stick that divides the liver into vascular halves is the one with vena cava impression (since vena cava carries blood, it’s fortunate that it’s the divider for blood halves). |
| Pleura surface markings | “All the even ribs, in order: 2,4,6,8,10,12 show its route”:
Rib2: sharp angle inferiorly Rib4: the left pleura does a lateral shift to accommodate heart Rib6: both diverge laterally Rib8: midclavicular line Rib10: midaxillary line Rib12: the back � See diagram. |
| Palmaris longus: location, relative to wrist nerves | “The Palmaris between two Palmars”:
Palmaris longus is between the Palmar cutaneous branch of Ulnar nerve and Palmar cutaneous branch of Median nerve. |
| Carpal tunnel syndrome causes | MEDIAN TRAP:
Myxoedema Edema premenstrually Diabetes Idiopathic Agromegaly Neoplasm Trauma Rheumatoid arthritis Amyloidosis Pregnancy � Mnemonic fits nicely since median nerve is trapped. |
| Pectoral nerves: path of lateral vs. medial | “Lateral Less, Medial More”:
Lateral pectoral nerve only goes through Pectoralis major, but Medial pectoral nerve goes though both Pectoralis major and minor. |
| Superior thyroid artery branches | “May I Softly Squeeze Charlie’s Girl?”:
Muscular Infrahyoid Superior laryngeal Sternomastoid Cricothyroid Glandular |
| Abdominal muscles | “Spare TIRE around their abdomen”:
Transversus abdominis Internal abdominal oblique Rectus abdominis External abdominal oblique |
| Perineal vs. peroneal | Perineal is in between the legs.
Peroneal is on the leg. |
| Cranial bones | SEFPOT:
Sphenoid Ethmoid Frontal Parietal Occipital Temporal � The 6 just reminds that there’s 6 of them to remember. |
| L4 landmark: 2 items | “B4U” [before you]:
Bifurcation of aorta L4 Umbilicus |
| Bowel components | “Dow Jones Industrial Average Closing Stock Report”:
� From proximal to distal: Duodenum Jejunum Ileum Appendix Colon Sigmoid Rectum � Alternatively: to include the cecum, “Dow Jones Industrial Climbing Average Closing Stock Report”. |
| Lung lobes: segments of right middle lobe | “ML=ML”:
Segments of Middle Lobe are Medial & Lateral. |
| Nasal cavity components | “Never Call Me Needle Nose!”:
Nares [external] Conchae Meatuses Nares [internal] Nasopharynx � Note mnemonic sentence is nasally-related. |
| Plantarflexion vs. dorsiflexion | Plantar flexion occurs when you squish a Plant with your foot. |
| Adductor magnus innervation | “AM SO!”:
Adductor Magnus innervated by Sciatic and Obturator. |
| Lumbar plexus roots | “2 from 1, 2 from 2, 2 from 3”:
2 nerves from 1 root: Ilioinguinal (L1), Iliohypogastric (L1). 2 nerves from 2 roots: Genitofemoral (L1,L2), Lateral Femoral (L2,L3). 2 nerves from 3 roots: Obturator (L2,L3,L4), Femoral (L2,L3,L4). |
| Female pelvic organs’ blood supply | “3 organs, each get 2 blood supplies”:
Uterus: uterine, vaginal. Rectum: middle rectal, inferior rectal [inferior rectal is the end of pudendal]. Bladder: superior vesical, inferior vesical. |
| Cervical plexus: arrangement of the important nerves |
“GLAST”: � 4 compass points: clockwise from north on the right side of neck: Great auricular Lesser occipital Accessory nerve pops out between L and S Supraclavicular Transverse cervical � See diagram. |
| Liver: side with ligamentum venosum/ caudate lobe vs. side with quadrate lobe/ ligamentum teres |
“VC goes with VC”: The Venosum and Caudate is on same side as Vena Cava [posterior]. Therefore, quadrate and teres must be on anterior by default. � See inferior-view diagram. |
| 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. |
| Anterior 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. |
| Median and ulnar nerves: common features |
Each supply 1/2 of flexor digitorum profundus. Each supplies 2 lumbricals. Each has a palmar cutaneous nerve that pops off prematurely. Each supplies an eminence group of muscles [ulnar: hypothenar. median: thenar]. Each enters forearm through two heads [ulnar: heads of flexor carpi ulnaris. median: heads of pronator teres]. Each has no branches in upper arm. Each makes two fingers claw when cut at wrist. Each supplies a palmaris [median: palmaris longus. ulnar: palmaris brevis]. |
| Thyroids: relative sizes |
Thyroid looks like a bra (see picture). Breasts are bigger in women, so thyroid bigger in women. Pregnant women have biggest breasts of all, so they have the biggest thyroids. |
| Saphenous veins: path of great vs. small at malleolus |
“MAGdelaine has varicose veins” [The saphenous veins are important for varicose veins]: Medial maleolus, Anterior to maleolus, and Great saphenous go together. Then the opposites of these go together: Small saphenous is posterior to the lateral maleolus. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| V3 innervated muscles (branchial arch 1 derivatives) |
“M.D. My TV”: Mastication [masseter, temporalis, pterygoids] Digastric [anterior belly] Mylohyoid tensor Tympani tensor Veli palatini |
| CN VII innervated muscles (branchial arch 2 derivatives) |
“Imagine someone making the facial expression to say ‘PSS…’ “: Facial expression muscles Posterior belly of digastric Stapedius Stylohyoid |
| Thoracic cage: relations to the important venous structures |
Behind the sternoclavicular joints: the brachiocephalic veins begin. Behind the 1st costal cartilage on the right the superior vena cava begins. Behind the 2nd costal cartilage on the right the azygos vein ends. Behind the 3rd costal cartilage on the right the superior vena cava ends. |
| 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. |
| Autonomics to the gut |
“The PARAsympathetics follow a rule of TWO” [pair = two]: � The vagus does the top, the sacral splanchnics the outflow tract. “The sympathetics follow a rule of threes”: � Greater, lesser, least splanchnic nerves go to the celiac,superior and inferior mesenteric ganglion. |
| Descending abdominal aorta: seven divisions |
“Sometimes Intestines Get Really Stretched Causing Leakage”: Suprarenals [paired] Inferior mesenteric Gonadal [paired] Renals [paired] Superior mesenteric Celiac Lumbar [paired] |
| Vagus nerve: path into thorax | “I Left my Aunt in Vegas”:
Left Vagus nerve goes Anterior descending into the thorax. |
| Brachial plexus: branches of posterior cord |
STAR: Subscapular [upper and lower] Thoracodorsal Axillary Radial |
| Internal jugular vein: tributaries |
“Medical Schools Let Confident People In”: � From inferior to superior: Middle thyroid Superior thyroid Lingual Common facial Pharyngeal Inferior petrosal sinus |
| Retroperitoneal structures list |
SAD PUCKER: Suprarenal glands Aorta & IVC Duodenum (half) Pancreas Ureters Colon (ascending & descending) Kidneys Esophagus (anterior & left covered) Rectum |
| Portal-systemic anastomoses: main 2 places that retroperitoneals connect into systemic |
RetroPeritoneals hook up with Renal and Paravertebral veins. |
| Facial bones |
“Virgil Can Not Make My Pet Zebra Laugh!”: Vomer Conchae Nasal Maxilla Mandible Palatine Zygomatic Lacrimal |
| Carpum and tarsum |
“SCIT”: (Artum) Superior Carpum (Artum) Inferior Tarsum |
| Extraocular muscles cranial nerve innervation |
“LR6SO4 rest 3”: Lateral Rectus is 6th Superior Oblique is 4th rest are all 3rd cranial nerve |
| Brachial artery: recurrent and collateral branches |
“I Am Pretty Sexy” Inferior ulnar collateral artery goes with Anterior ulnar recurrent artery. Posterior ulnar recurrent artery goes with Superior ulnar collateral artery. � Alternatively: “I Am Pretty Smart”. |
| Orbit: bones of medial wall |
“My Little Eye Sits in the orbit”: Maxilla (frontal process) Lacrimal Ethmoid Sphenoid (body) |
| 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. |
| Obturator canal: relations of structures |
“Who’s flying in the top of Obturator canal? Obviously Not A Vein!”: Obturator Nerve Artery Vein |
| Lacrimal nerve course |
“Lacrimal’s story of 8 L’s”: Lacrimal nerve runs on Lateral wall of orbit above Lateral rectus, then Lets communicating branch join in, then supplies Lacrimal gland, then Leaves it and supplies Lateral upper eye Lid! |
| Internal iliac artery: posterior branch |
PILS: Posterior branch Iliolumbar Lateral sacral Superior gluteal |
| Facial nerve branches |
“Two Zombies Buggered My Cat”: � From superior to inferior: Temporal branch Zygomatic branch Buccal branch Mandibular branch Cervical branch � Alternatively: “Two Zulus Bit My Cat”. � Alternatively: “Two Zebras Bit My Coccyx”. � Alternatively: “To Zanzibar By Motor Car”. � Alternatively: “Tall Zulus Bear Many Children” � Alternatively: “Tell Ziggy Bob Marley Called”. |
| 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”. |
| Cartilage derivatives of 1st pharyngeal arch (mandibular) |
“I’M A Super Sexy Guy” (or Girl): Incus Malleus Anterior ligament of malleus Spine of sphenoid Sphenomandibular ligament Genial tubercle of mandible |
| Facial nerve: branches after Stylomastoid foramen |
“Ten Zulus Buggered My Cat (Painfully)”: � From superior to inferior: Temporal branch Zygomatic branch Buccal branch Mandibular branch Cervical branch (Posterior auricular nerve) � Alternatively: “PAssing Through Zanzibar By Motor Car” (PA for Posterior Auricular). |
| Sperm pathway through male reproductive tract |
“STaRT DEEP–VD!”: � Sperm duct system progression, from smallest to largest: ST: Seminiferous Tubules RT: Rete Testes DE: Ductus Efferentes EP: Epididymis VD: Vas Deferens |
| Maxillary artery branches |
“DAM I AM Piss Drunk But Stupid Drunk I Prefer, Must Phone Alcoholics Anonymous”: Deep auricular Anterior tympanic Middle meningeal Inferior alveolar Accessory meningeal Masseteric Pterygoid Deep temporal Buccal Sphenopalatine Descending palatine Infraorbital Posterior superior alveolar Middle superior alveolar Pharyngeal Anterior superior alveolar Artery of the pterygoid canal |
| Femoral hernia: epidemiology |
FEMoral hernias are more common in FEMales. |
| Superior orbital fissure: structures passing through |
“Live Free To See Absolutely No Insult”: Lacrimal nerve Frontal nerve Trochlear nerve Superior branch of oculomotor nerve Abducent nerve Nasociliary nerve Inferior branch of oculomotor nerve |
| V3: sensory branches | “Buccaneers Are Inferior Linguists”:
Buccal Auriculotemporal Inferior alveolar Lingual |
| Spinal cord: length in vertebral column |
SCULL: Spinal Cord Until L2 (LL). |
| Ansa cervicalis nerves |
“GHost THought SOmeone STupid SHot Irene”: Geniohyoid Thyrohyoid Superior Omohyoid Sternothyroid Sternohyoid Inferior omohyoid |
| Bronchopulmonary segments of right lung |
“A PALM Seed Makes Another Little Palm”: � In order from superior to inferior: Apical Posterior Anterior Lateral Medial Superior Medial basal Anterior basal Lateral basal Posterior basal |
| Psoas major: innervation |
If you hit L2, 3, 4 Psoas gets sore! |
| Superior mediastinum contents |
“BATS & TENT”: Brachiocephalic veins Arch of aorta Thymus Superior vena cava Trachea Esophagus Nerves (vagus & phrenic) Thoracic duct |
| Internal iliac artery: anterior branches |
What Bill admitted to Hilary: “I Milked Our Insatiable Intern’s Udders Under the Desk”: Inferior gluteal Middle rectal Obturator Inferior vesical artery Internal pudendal artery Umbilical U/D=Uterine artery (female)/ Deferential artery (male) |
| Bowel components |
“Dublin Sisters Ceramic Red Colored Jewelry Apparently Illegal”: � 2-4 letters of each component: Duodenum Sigmoid Cecum Rectum Colon Jejunum Appendix Ileum |
| Radial nerve: muscles innervated |
“Try A Big Chocolate Chip Sundae, Double Dip Cherries And Peanuts Preferably Included”: � In order of their innervation, proximal to distal: Triceps Anconeus Brachioradialis ext. Carpi radialis longus ext. Carpi radialis brevis Supinator ext. Digitorum ext.Digiti minimi ext. Carpi ulnaris Abductor poll. longus ext. Poll. brevis ext. P poll. longus ext. Indicis � For the neighboring words that start with the same letter (eg: chocolate and chip), notice that the longer word in the mnemonic, corresponds to the longer of the two muscle names (ex: ext. carpi radialis longus and ext. carpi radialis brevis) |
| Ankle: anterior compartment of leg contents | “The Hamptons Are Never Dull Parties”:
From medial malleolus: Tibialis anterior tendon (Extensor) Hallacus longus Artery (anterior tibial) Nerve (deep peroneal) (Extensor) Digitorum Peroneus tertius |
| Cubital fossa contents |
“Really Need Booze To Be At My Nicest”: � From lateral to medial: Radial Nerve Biceps Tendon Brachial Artery Median Nerve |
| Cricoarytenoids: abductor vs. adductor |
When aliens abduct you, they Probe you. Posterior cricoarytenoids abduct. Lateral therefore is adduct by default. |
| Atrioventricular valves |
“LAB RAT”: Left Atrium: Bicuspid Right Atrium: Tricuspid |
| 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] |
| Brachial plexus: numbers of each section | It is the same backwards and forwards:
5-3-2-3-5: 5 Rami 3 Trunks 2 Divisions 3 Cords 5 Terminal nerves |
| Umbilical ligaments: contents |
IOU: � From lateral to medial: lateral umbilical ligament: Inferior epigastric vessels medial unbilical ligament: Obliterated umbilical artery median umbilical ligament: Urachus |
| Vetebrae subtypes | “Certain Doctors Luv Saddling Coeds”:
From superior to inferior: Cervical Dorsal Lumbar Sacrum Coccyx |
| 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] |
| Ear: bones of inner ear | MIS has a new sari.
Malleus Incus Stapes � Describes the shape, and relative position (from out to in) of the inner ear bones. � Alternatively: “Mailing Includes Stamps”. |
| Eye rotation by oblique muscles |
“I Love S&M”: Inferior oblique: Lateral eye rotation. Superior oblique: Medial eye rotation. |
| Brachial artery is medial to biceps tendon |
“BAMBI”: Brachial Artery is Medial to Biceps In elbow. |
| Retroperitoneal organs (major) |
“AC/DC Rocker Kids Party Down”: Ascending Colon Descending Colon Rectum Kidneys Pancreas Duodenum |
| Ossification ages |
“Every Potential Anatomist Should Know When” � When they ossify, in order of increasing year: Elbow: 16 years Pelvis, Ankle: 17 years Shoulder, Knee: 18 years Wrist: 19 years |
| Foramen ovale contents |
OVALE: Otic ganglion (just inferior) V3 cranial nerve Accessory meningeal artery Lesser petrosal nerve Emissary veins |
| Bronchopulmonary segments of the left lung |
“Astute Anatomists Share Inside Secrets About Lungs”: Apicoposterior (S1+2) Anterior (S3) Superior (S4) Inferior (S5) Superior (S6) Anteromedial basal (S7+8) Lateral basal (S9) |
| Carpal bones (multangular names) |
“Never Lower Tillie’s Pants. Mother May Come Home.”: Navicular Lunate Triquetrium Pisiform greater Multangular (trapezium) lesser Multangular (trapezoid) Capitate Hamate |
| Horner’s syndrome: components |
“HORNy PAM” � Horner’s is: Ptosis Anhidrosis Miosis � Extra details with HORNY PAMELa: Ptosis Anhidrosis Miosis Enophthalmos Loss of ciliospinal reflex |
| Coelic trunk: branches |
Left Hand Side (LHS): Left gastric artery Hepatic artery Splenic artery |
| 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. |
| Heart valve sequence |
“Try Pulling My Aorta”: Tricuspid Pulmonary Mitral Aorta |
| Bell’s palsy: symptoms |
BELL’S Palsy: Blink reflex abnormal Earache Lacrimation [deficient, excess] Loss of taste Sudden onset Palsy of VII nerve muscles � All symptoms are unilateral. |
| Inguinal canal: walls |
“MALT: 2M, 2A, 2L, 2T”: � Starting from superior, moving around in order to posterior: Superior wall (roof): 2 Muscles: � internal oblique Muscle � transverse abdominus Muscle Anterior wall: 2 Aponeuroses: � Aponeurosis of external oblique � Aponeurosis of internal oblique Lower wall (floor): 2 Ligaments: � inguinal Ligament � lacunar Ligament Posterior wall: 2Ts: � Transversalis fascia � conjoint Tendon |
| Cruciate ligaments: insertions |
PAMS APPLES: Posterior [passes] Anterior [inserts] Medially. Anterior [passes] Posteriorly [inserts] Laterally. |
| Tibia: muscles of pes anserinus (the muscles attached to tibia’s medial side) |
“A Girl between Two Sargeants”: Gracilus is between Sartorius and Semitendonosus |
| 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. |
| Genu valgum vs. genu vargum |
Genu valGUM (knock-knee): knees are GUMmed together. � Varum (bowleg) is the other by default, or Far rhymes with Var, so knees are far apart. |
| 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. |
| Mediastinums: posterior mediastinum structures |
There are 4 birds: The esophaGOOSE (esophagus) The vaGOOSE nerve The azyGOOSE vein The thoracic DUCK (duct) |
| Thigh: innervation by compartment |
“MAP OF Sciatic”: Medial compartment: Obturator Anterior compartment: Femoral Posterior compartment: Sciatic � So all the thigh muscles in that compartment get innervated by that nerve. |
| 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. |
| Internal pudendal branches |
“I Pee Pee But Don’t Dump!”: Inferior rectal Posterior scrotal (or labial) Perineal Bulb Deep artery Dorsal artery |
| 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! |
| Hand fractures: Colle’s vs. Smith’s |
Colle’s fracture: arm in fall position makes a ‘C’ shape. Smith’s fracture: arm in fall position makes a ‘S’ shape. � See diagram. |
| Arm fractures: nerves affected by humerus fracture location |
ARM fracture: � From superior to inferior: Axillary: head of humerus Radial: mid shaft Median: supracondular |
| Extraocular muscles: movements |
“ObliqLiques cause lateral rotation of eyeball”: � Obliques cause lateral, all other rectii are medial rotators of the eyeball. Action of the obliques is opposite to their names. Action of the rectii is rightly fitting to their names. Both superiors cause intorsion and both inferiors cause extorsion. |
| Broad ligament: contents |
BROAD: Bundle (ovarian neurovascular bundle) Round ligament Ovarian ligament Artefacts (vestigial structures) Duct (oviduct) |
| Cardiac valves: order in circuit |
“TRI berore you BI”: Tricuspid valve is located in left heart and Bicuspid valve is located in right heart. Blood flows through the tricuspid before bicuspid. |
| Diaphragm apertures: spinal levels |
Aortic hiatus = 12 letters = T12 Oesophagus = 10 letters = T10 Vena cava = 8 letters = T8 |
| Heart valves: order in circuit |
“First learn a Tricycle, then learn a Bicycle”: Flow through Tricuspid first, then Bicuspid. |
| Lung lobes: one having lingula, lobe numbers |
Lingula is on Left. The lingula is like an atrophied lobe, so the left lung must have 2 “other” lobes, and therefore right lung has 3 lobes. |
| External jugular vein: tributaries |
PAST: Posterior external jugular vein Anterior jugular vein Suprascapular vein Transverse cervical vein |
| Elbow joint: radius vs. ulna ends |
CRAzy TULips: Capitalum = RAdius Trochlear = ULnar |
| Serratus Anterior: nerve vs. blood |
LoNg thoracic: Nerve LAteral thoracic: Artery |
| Elbow joint: capitulum vs. trochlea |
CUTER: Capitulum: Ulnar Trochlea: Radial |
| Branches of Internal Iliac Artery |
“I Love Going Places In My Very Own Underwear”: Ileolumbar Lateral sacral Gluteal (superior and inferior) Pudendal (internal) Inferior vesicle (uterine in females) Middle rectal Vaginal Obturator Umbilical |
| 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. |
| Pes anserinus: component tendons |
“Some God*amned Tendon”: � From medial to lateral: Sartorius Gracilis Semitendinosus |
| Tibia vs. fibula: sizes |
The Fibula is thin like a Flute. The Tibia is thick like a Tuba. |
| Lower limb: muscles between upper legs |
“There’s a GAP between upper legs when you sit without closing your knees”: Gastrocnemious Adductors Pectinious |
| Muscles of respiration |
“Don’t Exercise In Quicksand”: Diaprahm External intercostals Internal intercostals Quadratus |
| Sacral plexus: posterior components |
“Common Gluttons For Punishment”: Common fibular Gluteals (superior and inferior) Femoral cutaneous (Posterior) Piriformis nerve |
| 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 |
| Deltoid: proximal attachments |
Deltoid CLASPs: Clavicle, Acromion and Spine of the scapula. |
| Musculocutaneous nerve: muscles supplied |
BBC: Biceps brachii Brachialis Coracobrachialis |
| Pharynx vs. larynx |
Eat Phood with your Pharynx. Sing La La La with your Larynx |
| Posterior mediastinum: contents |
DATES: Descending aorta Azygos and hemiazygous veins Thoracic duct Esophagus Sympathetic trunk/ganglia |
| Skull bones |
“STEP OF 6 ” � The 6 skull bones are: Sphenoid Temporal Ethmoid Parietal Occipital Frontal � Alternatively: “STEP OFf my skull”. |
| Balance organs: relative position of saccule vs. utricle |
“Your SAC is below U”: Saccule is below the Utricle. � Note: “sac” is slang for male genitalia, and it thus down “below”. |
| Grey vs. white rami communicantes | WhIte = On the Way In to the sympathetic trunk
GrEy = Exiting the sympathetic trunk |
| Lingula location |
LingULa = Left Upper Lobe |
| Femoral triangle: boundaries | “Femoral triangle is shaped like a SAIL”:
Sartorius Aductor longus Inguinal Ligament |
| Bifurcation vertebral landmarks | A bifurcation occurs on 4th level of each vertebral column:
C4: bifurcation of common carotid artery T4: bifurcation of trachea L4: bifurcation of aorta |
| 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 |
| Rheumatic fever: Jones 5 major criteria | SPACE:
Subcutaneous nodules Pancarditis Arthritis Chorea Erythema Marginatum |