Medical Mnemonics

mardybumbum

I have a bit of a problem remembering certain definitions, branches of nerves, names/attachments of muscles, foramina, receptor antagonists, how to read an ECG, blah, blah, blah.

How about a thread where we can all post up little gems that we have came across that make that learning process a little easier.
This thread may die a slow and painful death but Im hoping that It may be of some use to us health science students.
They dont have to be mnemonics, any little tips ye have are appreciated.

Ok, so ill start.
This is one I came up with while not paying attention in anatomy.

Branches of the Facial Nerve ( The Zygote Becomes My Child )
- Temporal
- Zygomatic
- Buccal
- Marginal Mandibular
- Cervical

I have a few other ones but I dont want to use them all up yet.

Piste

I kept confusing plantar and dorsiflexion of the foot until someone in my year told me dorsiflexion is the movement used to kick in a door, and plantar flexion is the movement used to press down seeds when planting, so that's how i remember it now.

Jessibelle

Causes of Afib in the heart:

H= cHf, other cardiomyopathies
E= Enlargement of the atria
A= Alcohol binge drinking
R= Rheumatic heart disease
T= hyperThyroid

mardybumbum

Thanks Piste and Jessibelle. They are both ones I haven't come across before.

Remembering which division of the Autonomic Nervous System is responsible for erection/ejaculation.

Parasympthetic = Point
Sympathetic = Squirt





Erm.....a friend of mine came up with that one.

Jessibelle

Symptoms for hyperthyroidism:

S: Sweating

T: Tremor or Tachycardia

I: Intolerance to heat, Irregular menstrual cycle , and Irritability

N: Nervousness

G: Goiter and Gastrointestinal (loose stools/diarrhea).

Courtesy of my endocrinologist when I had to study for an exam while in hospital

tallaght01

Jessibelle wrote: »

Causes of Afib in the heart:

H= cHf, other cardiomyopathies
E= Enlargement of the atria
A= Alcohol binge drinking
R= Rheumatic heart disease
T= hyperThyroid

Big fail if you don't mention lone/idiopathic AF!

mardybumbum wrote: »

Thanks Piste and Jessibelle. They are both ones I haven't come across before.

Remembering which division of the Autonomic Nervous System is responsible for erection/ejaculation.

Parasympthetic = Point
Sympathetic = Squirt





Erm.....a friend of mine came up with that one.

Your friend is taking the piss. That's an ancient mnenomonic :P

sam34

there was one for caises of carpal tunnel syndrome, not sure if i can remember what each letter stands for though!

P pregnancy
O obesity
T thyroid

F familial
A emmmmm, no idea what this stands for
C ditto
Endocrine -diabetes
D drugs (cant remember which ones)

still, not bad going for a shrink!

Vorsprung

Causes of Erythema Nodosum:

NO -Idiopathic
D - Drugs
O - OCP
S - Sarcoidosis, Streptococcus
U - Ulcerative Colitis (IBD really)
M - Mycobacterium (TB)

There's a few others in the list I can't remember

sam34

sam34 wrote: »

there was one for caises of carpal tunnel syndrome, not sure if i can remember what each letter stands for though!

P pregnancy
O obesity
T thyroid

F familial
A emmmmm, no idea what this stands for
C ditto
Endocrine -diabetes
D drugs (cant remember which ones)

still, not bad going for a shrink!

oh, ahve just remembered that the A stands for alcohol

flerb22

http://www.medicalmnemonics.com/


loads and loads on this website

Jessibelle

tallaght01 wrote: »

Big fail if you don't mention lone/idiopathic AF!

Is lone/idopathic AF not caused by various factors like drinking alcohol, or
drinking hyper-caffeinated beverages, or previous cardiomyopathies, or am I completely off base and they're completely independant? The texts I have seem to have little or no details in them, but they're not particularly medical-orientated texts

Piste

There's an amazing lecturer in college that has really dirty mnemonics (he's in his 80s!). I'll post some up if I can remember them.

tallaght01

Jessibelle wrote: »

Is lone/idopathic AF not caused by various factors like drinking alcohol, or
drinking hyper-caffeinated beverages, or previous cardiomyopathies, or am I completely off base and they're completely independant? The texts I have seem to have little or no details in them, but they're not particularly medical-orientated texts

No, usually just aberrent pathways, or some other unknown reason.

sillymoo

Piste wrote: »

There's an amazing lecturer in college that has really dirty mnemonics (he's in his 80s!). I'll post some up if I can remember them.

Think this is one of his for remembering the order of the cranial nerves

Oh, Oh, Oh, To Touch And Feel A Girls Vaginas Such Heaven

* I-Olfactory nerve,
* II-Optic nerve,
* III-Oculomotor nerve,
* IV-Trochlear nerve,
* V-Trigeminal nerve,
* VI-Abducens nerve,
* VII-Facial nerve,
* VIII-Vestibulocochlear nerve/Auditory nerve,
* IX-Glossopharyngeal nerve,
* X-Vagus nerve,
* XI-Spinal accessory nerve
* XII-Hypoglossal nerve.

Also I think there was a good one for the femoral canal, something about Albert in bed with Victoria and then one of them going on top???

Sorry for bringing the tone of this thread waaayyyy down

Jessibelle

tallaght01 wrote: »

No, usually just aberrent pathways, or some other unknown reason.

ah, ta for that!

sam34

this isnt a mnemonic, but i remember learning it in anatomy for the course of teh lingual nerve:

the lingual nerve, it took a swerve, across the hyoglossus, and wharton's duct said "well, i'll be f*cked, the ba*tards double crossed us"

locum-motion

Here's a pair that I made up myself for remembering differences between the Parasympathetic and Sympathetic Nervous Systems.

Simple Simon Played A Lovely Piano, Naturally.

Sympathetic: Short Pre-ganglionic fibres, Acetylcholine (= ganglionic neurotransmitter), Long Post-ganglionic fibres, Noradrenaline (= terminal neurotransmitter)

Peter Laughed Profusely At Simon's Pet Ass.

Parasympathetic: Long Pre-ganglionic fibres, Acetylcholine (= ganglionic neurotransmitter), Short Post-ganglionic fibres, Acetylcholine (= terminal neurotransmitter)

locum-motion

sam34 wrote: »

this isnt a mnemonic, but i remember learning it in anatomy for the course of teh lingual nerve:

the lingual nerve, it took a swerve, across the hyoglossus, and wharton's duct said "well, i'll be f*cked, the ba*tards double crossed us"

Just mentioned this one to my dad, who's a dentist. He hadn't heard it spoken aloud in nearly 50 years, but was still able to finish it when I started it off!

raver22

Causes of pancreatitis: I GET SMASHED
Idiopathic
Gallstones
Ethanol
Trauma
Steroids
Mumps
Autoimmune disease
Scorpian/snake bites
Hypercalaemia, hyperlipidaemia and hypothermia
ERCP
Drugs

mardybumbum

locum-motion wrote: »

Noradrenaline (= terminal neurotransmitter)

Except for the sweat glands. :eek:
mAChR's if I remember clearly, which I dont.

Echani

Anyone know any good Obs/Gyn ones?


Only mnemonic that came up recently for me was this

Cerebellar signs
SPINDAR
Staccato speech (ataxic dysarthria)
Pass-pointing
Intention tremor
Nystagmus
Dysdiadochokinesis
Ataxia
Rebound

Jessibelle

Echani wrote: »

Anyone know any good Obs/Gyn ones?

Breast feeding: Contra-indicated drugs-

BREAST

B= Bromocriptine/benzodiazepines

R= Radioactive isotopes/ Rizatriptan

E= Ergotamine/ Ethosuximide

A= Amiodarone/ Amphetamine

S= Sex steroids

T= Tetracycline/ Tretinoin

jumpguy

Rest
Ice
Compression
Elevation

For treatment of swelling.

SPLINTS is there aswell. For the signs & symptoms of a fracture.
Swelling
Pain
Lethargy (I think...)
I Can't remember...
Nausea
T Can't remember...
Shock

Can't figure outs I and T. I'll let you doctor folk figure it out...I better revise my First Aid...

mardybumbum

raver22 wrote: »

Causes of pancreatitis: I GET SMASHED

Scorpion/snake bites

Drugs

Not sure how common this is in Ireland, but one of the doctors out at the AMNCH today told us thats the first cause that most of the final meds write down in their exams. :pac:

chanste

We just came across this little gem (or should I say GEM? - sorry; that was bad) when studying the carpal bones in the wrist. Some Lovers Try Positions That They Can't Handle (SLTPTTCH)

S...caphoid
L...unate
T...riquedrum
P...isiform
T...rapesium
T...rapezoid
C...apitate
H...Hamate

Hope I didn't get them wrong now after that ;-)

bythewoods

chanste wrote: »

We just came across this little gem (or should I say GEM? - sorry; that was bad) when studying the carpal bones in the wrist. Some Lovers Try Positions That They Can't Handle (SLTPTTCH)

S...caphoid
L...unate
T...riquedrum
P...isiform
T...rapesium
T...rapezoid
C...apitate
H...Hamate

Hope I didn't get them wrong now after that ;-)

I use that bad boy for the carpal bones myself! Was actually just thinking of it going through this thread, it's so handy because it's even in the right order going from left to right in zee books

panda100

The only ones I can remeber are Scared Lovers Try Positions They Cant Handle , for bones in the hand,
and, Oh, Oh, Oh To Touch and Feel Virgin Girls Vagina and Hymen, for Cranial Nerves.

Theres a wicked book for picture Mnemonics in pharmacology. I cant remember the name of it but they sell it in Clarenodn, its A4 size, thin, with an orange cover.

locum-motion

panda100 wrote: »

The only ones I can remeber are Scared Lovers Try Positions They Cant Handle , for bones in the hand,
and, Oh, Oh, Oh To Touch and Feel Virgin Girls Vagina and Hymen, for Cranial Nerves.

Well, according to these other posters, I'm afraid you didn't remember them very well! In your versions you're missing one of the Trapesium and Trapezoid Bones, and the Spinal Accessory Nerve.

sillymoo wrote: »

Think this is one of his for remembering the order of the cranial nerves

Oh, Oh, Oh, To Touch And Feel A Girls Vaginas Such Heaven

* I-Olfactory nerve,
* II-Optic nerve,
* III-Oculomotor nerve,
* IV-Trochlear nerve,
* V-Trigeminal nerve,
* VI-Abducens nerve,
* VII-Facial nerve,
* VIII-Vestibulocochlear nerve/Auditory nerve,
* IX-Glossopharyngeal nerve,
* X-Vagus nerve,
* XI-Spinal accessory nerve
* XII-Hypoglossal nerve.

Also I think there was a good one for the femoral canal, something about Albert in bed with Victoria and then one of them going on top???

Sorry for bringing the tone of this thread waaayyyy down

chanste wrote: »

We just came across this little gem (or should I say GEM? - sorry; that was bad) when studying the carpal bones in the wrist. Some Lovers Try Positions That They Can't Handle (SLTPTTCH)

S...caphoid
L...unate
T...riquedrum
P...isiform
T...rapesium
T...rapezoid
C...apitate
H...Hamate

Hope I didn't get them wrong now after that ;-)

Laydee

For the cranial bones:

Old People From Texas Eat Spiders.

Occipital, Parietal, Frontal, Temporal, Eathmoid & Sphenoid.



For the facial bones:

Virgil Can Not Make My Pet Zebra Laugh.

Vomer, Concha, Nasal, Maxilla, Mandible, Palatine, Zygomatic & Lacrimal.

Larianne

chanste wrote: »

We just came across this little gem (or should I say GEM? - sorry; that was bad) when studying the carpal bones in the wrist. Some Lovers Try Positions That They Can't Handle (SLTPTTCH)

S...caphoid
L...unate
T...riquedrum
P...isiform
T...rapesium
T...rapezoid
C...apitate
H...Hamate

Hope I didn't get them wrong now after that ;-)

This will come in dead handy when my spot exam comes around. I think the meds were asked about the wrist. An x-ray?

mardybumbum

Larianne wrote: »

This will come in dead handy when my spot exam comes around. I think the meds were asked about the wrist. An x-ray?

I asked one of the first meds how her spot exam went and she didnt mention anything about an x - ray. Im assuming there was an X - ray question though.

One question that she didnt like was " name a sport that involves serratus anterior ". Boxing is a good one. What nerve supplies this muscle (long thoracic) and damage to it produces what effect? Winged scapula would be the answer they were looking for there I guess.

There was a question on damage to the surgical neck of the humerus.
The (axillary nerve) would be prone to damage in this situation, which innervates ( deltoid/teres minor ). This would effect ( abduction ) of the humerus.

There was also a question on trapezius and the accessory nerve iirc.

Attachments of muscles always makes an appearance. Attachments in relation to the bicipital groove is a favourite.
The Lady Between Two Majors is a good mnemonic for remembering the attachmnets of Latissimus (Lady) and the two majors (Pec and Teres)


Im actually surprised nick mahony didnt mention that mnemonic to you.
He loves to replace the word lovers with lecturers. :rolleyes:

Larianne

mardybumbum wrote: »

I asked one of the first meds how her spot exam went and she didnt mention anything about an x - ray. Im assuming there was an X - ray question though.

One question that she didnt like was " name a sport that involves serratus anterior ". Boxing is a good one. What nerve supplies this muscle (long thoracic) and damage to it produces what effect? Winged scapula would be the answer they were looking for there I guess.

There was a question on damage to the surgical neck of the humerus.
The (axillary nerve) would be prone to damage in this situation, which innervates ( deltoid/teres minor ). This would effect ( abduction ) of the humerus.

There was also a question on trapezius and the accessory nerve iirc.

Attachments of muscles always makes an appearance. Attachments in relation to the bicipital groove is a favourite.
The Lady Between Two Majors is a good mnemonic for remembering the attachmnets of Latissimus (Lady) and the two majors (Pec and Teres)


Im actually surprised nick mahony didnt mention that mnemonic to you.
He loves to replace the word lovers with lecturers. :rolleyes:

Yeah, was speaking to one of the docs and he said there was an x-ray of the wrist and you had to name the bones? And that there was a question to do with elbow tendonitis or tennis elbow and that the students didn't like that one.

But I'm guessing Physio and OT won't be asked the same questions, dam. I think Moore's is good for the Clinical aspect to it. Love that book!

Oh I know the Lady between two Majors. And SITS for the rotator cuff muscles. Also, when learning about supination, think of holding a cup of soup in your hand. I don't have Dr.Mahony for any lectures. The lovely lady doc is great for giving tips to remember things.

mardybumbum

Larianne wrote: »

But I'm guessing Physio and OT won't be asked the same questions, dam.

You would be very surprised. In our written anatomy paper last year, I think we got two exact same questions as the physios. Word for word. :eek:
Moore's is great for clinical but I get a headache whenever I open it. Information all over the shop.
I find the structure in Grays to be much more suitable for studying.

Edit: And thanks for the "soup" tip. Now that we are studying head and neck anatomy we dont really come across those terms anymore. So easy to forget.

sam34

as a psychiatrist, i think the majority of freud's "theories" are complete rubbish, but some of them are still taught and examined, so...

stages of development:

OAP's Love Geriatricians

Oral
Anal
Phallic
Latent
Genital

_Whimsical_

sillymoo wrote: »

Think this is one of his for remembering the order of the cranial nerves

Oh, Oh, Oh, To Touch And Feel A Girls Vaginas Such Heaven

* I-Olfactory nerve,
* II-Optic nerve,
* III-Oculomotor nerve,
* IV-Trochlear nerve,
* V-Trigeminal nerve,
* VI-Abducens nerve,
* VII-Facial nerve,
* VIII-Vestibulocochlear nerve/Auditory nerve,
* IX-Glossopharyngeal nerve,
* X-Vagus nerve,
* XI-Spinal accessory nerve
* XII-Hypoglossal nerve.


Sorry for bringing the tone of this thread waaayyyy down

Excellent. I hope that encourages sound learning. Relying on it later in a career could be detrimental. It's not something you ever want to hear your doctor muttering under his breath.

bythewoods

Larianne wrote: »

This will come in dead handy when my spot exam comes around. I think the meds were asked about the wrist. An x-ray?

I can confirm that there was an Xray of the wrist.
It was pointing to the Lunate, and we were then asked what the hollow area in front of the bone was and one clinical problem associated with it.

Bitch of an exam tbh.

Larianne

bythewoods wrote: »

I can confirm that there was an Xray of the wrist.
It was pointing to the Lunate, and we were then asked what the hollow area in front of the bone was and one clinical problem associated with it.

Bitch of an exam tbh.

Mines on the 9th Dec!

Was that Carpel tunnel and then carpel tunnel syndrome? The question was worded a bit funny.