Neuroanatomy is undoubtedly unliked by most of the medical students but luckily, we here in Pakistan it isn't emphasized as much as in west, a big reason that very few neurosurgeons are available in this age,plus the way it is taught makes it more complicated. The obvious reason that if your teacher tells you about lateral spinothalamic tract, what on earth can help you recognize or even visualize it. Importantly, neuroscience is such an extensive matter that even in 2012, it is insane to say that we do not know the function of 'Claustrum' or the variant 'Reticular formations' in different races.
Unfortunately, we do not have extensive scientific research programs which has made us least interesting in Mr.Brain's physiological anatomy while a fact remains that those who do not know neuroanatomy even after cramming the disastrous unit of Guyton, they will not be able to tell the exact procedural sequence of a reaction a person undergoes when he is been kissed or kicked.
Mr.Brain & Mrs.Spinal cord are almost like a royal couple, integrated,ordering,empowering,thinking,making the whole empire of Body in a homeostatic condition. In medical literature, it is evidently seen that even an ill person doesn't know that he is ill, thanks to brain which makes them think that they are good whence they are undergoing a debiliating end. Humans are perfect, because the maker of this specie is the Perfectionist.Now, lets talk about our subject, its beautiful when you think that the way you sit was once the same way your grandfather used to sit or your handwriting is almost similar to your father. How? Its what we call the genetics involving our neuroscience that made exacly he same microscopic synapses as your forefathers had. So it comes in your brain that lets start studying neuroanatomy. You are bound to study, it has a weightage in your 1st professional exam.
The next question is the division of marks at UHS. One Question is for sure weighing 5 marks in short answers while chance can be of two as well, so roughly 5 -10 marks can be from neuroanatomy. Around 3 - 5 Mcqs will surely be present, this makes a combo of 8 - 12 marks at average that will be from this subject. We cannot ignore this.
The best book?
Neuroanatomy by Richard Snell.
The bestest book alive. Though the bookworms surely consult Gray’s Anatomy but that is way more extensive than your scope, its better not to consult it for exams but for your information it can be a good choice, the worst part of reference book is, it is hard to revise them in short period.
The most important chapters?
Following chapters should be done with proper concept, all diagrams, tracts, afferents & efferents are very-very important.
Brainstem, Spinal Cord, Cerebellum, Two chapters of Cerebrum, Basal Ganglia, Three pathways of ANS, Blood Supply of CNS,Thalamus, Limbic System.
If you do all diagrams and theory of the chapters mentioned, you will surely pass, but remember, do not underestimate UHS, anything can be the fate of paper.
How to make Neuroanatomy easy?
Start visualizing, for instance, you are right now in 3rd ventricle, on your left and right side are thalami, at your back is pineal gland and at your back corners lives epithalamus, just below thalami is a covering called subthalami, if you walk forward you will step down a bit on hypothalamus and on you are two shelves what we call, lateral ventricles, if you lift up both of your sides you can see limbic system [...] Visualizing being part of the scene helps you alot. It makes you easy, easy enough to deal with problem.
What should be crammed?
What can be left from the textbook?
Leaving a chapter or a topic is the most questioned thing by a medical student, especially for middle-scoring person, you can leave first 3 chapters of neuroanatomy if you have less time, though they make you concept of what actually neuron is and how bundles are made. Leaving reticular formations explanation or letting the limbic system or hypothalamus less with you won’t make a bigger difference in anatomy though hypothalamus is very important in physiology.
You can also compromise on last chapter of embryology, brain’s development has never ever been important in Pakistan at graduate level.
Yes, if this sounds that not much is deducted, you can be selective in many chapters, yes many ! But be careful doing so.
What to be done with clinical approach of Neuroanatomy?
You cannot leave any clinical case regarding Blood Supply, Spinal Cord, Cerebellum though you can do Parkinsonism from Basal Ganglia. All clinicals showing up radiographs are beyond your subject, do not try wasting time which you cannot understand.
Tips:
1. Consult past papers
2. Draw diagrams by yourself on neat piece of paper and make it again and again
3. Give just one day during revision
4. Do not mix up tracts, write on a plan sheet with functions.
5. Take it easy.
Unfortunately, we do not have extensive scientific research programs which has made us least interesting in Mr.Brain's physiological anatomy while a fact remains that those who do not know neuroanatomy even after cramming the disastrous unit of Guyton, they will not be able to tell the exact procedural sequence of a reaction a person undergoes when he is been kissed or kicked.
Mr.Brain & Mrs.Spinal cord are almost like a royal couple, integrated,ordering,empowering,thinking,making the whole empire of Body in a homeostatic condition. In medical literature, it is evidently seen that even an ill person doesn't know that he is ill, thanks to brain which makes them think that they are good whence they are undergoing a debiliating end. Humans are perfect, because the maker of this specie is the Perfectionist.Now, lets talk about our subject, its beautiful when you think that the way you sit was once the same way your grandfather used to sit or your handwriting is almost similar to your father. How? Its what we call the genetics involving our neuroscience that made exacly he same microscopic synapses as your forefathers had. So it comes in your brain that lets start studying neuroanatomy. You are bound to study, it has a weightage in your 1st professional exam.
The next question is the division of marks at UHS. One Question is for sure weighing 5 marks in short answers while chance can be of two as well, so roughly 5 -10 marks can be from neuroanatomy. Around 3 - 5 Mcqs will surely be present, this makes a combo of 8 - 12 marks at average that will be from this subject. We cannot ignore this.
The best book?
Neuroanatomy by Richard Snell.
The bestest book alive. Though the bookworms surely consult Gray’s Anatomy but that is way more extensive than your scope, its better not to consult it for exams but for your information it can be a good choice, the worst part of reference book is, it is hard to revise them in short period.
The most important chapters?
Following chapters should be done with proper concept, all diagrams, tracts, afferents & efferents are very-very important.
Brainstem, Spinal Cord, Cerebellum, Two chapters of Cerebrum, Basal Ganglia, Three pathways of ANS, Blood Supply of CNS,Thalamus, Limbic System.
If you do all diagrams and theory of the chapters mentioned, you will surely pass, but remember, do not underestimate UHS, anything can be the fate of paper.
How to make Neuroanatomy easy?
Start visualizing, for instance, you are right now in 3rd ventricle, on your left and right side are thalami, at your back is pineal gland and at your back corners lives epithalamus, just below thalami is a covering called subthalami, if you walk forward you will step down a bit on hypothalamus and on you are two shelves what we call, lateral ventricles, if you lift up both of your sides you can see limbic system [...] Visualizing being part of the scene helps you alot. It makes you easy, easy enough to deal with problem.
What should be crammed?
- Make easy mnemonics for afferents and efferents, do not try longer to understand them as it would complex you, just cram them
- All diagrams, diagrams should be understood before pouring in memory because this helps you think and answer various anatomical sites.
- All charts, even the functions, this help you with physiology equally
- Diagrams of Brainstem and its levels are very very important, from last a decade since UHS is working, they are giving this question almost every year of any one stem level and the extent of the nucleus, do not leave it.
- Diagram of Circle of willis, Cortex areas are also very important
- Cerebellar parts are often a favorite question in viva, you can make a good mnemonic of it.
What can be left from the textbook?
Leaving a chapter or a topic is the most questioned thing by a medical student, especially for middle-scoring person, you can leave first 3 chapters of neuroanatomy if you have less time, though they make you concept of what actually neuron is and how bundles are made. Leaving reticular formations explanation or letting the limbic system or hypothalamus less with you won’t make a bigger difference in anatomy though hypothalamus is very important in physiology.
You can also compromise on last chapter of embryology, brain’s development has never ever been important in Pakistan at graduate level.
Yes, if this sounds that not much is deducted, you can be selective in many chapters, yes many ! But be careful doing so.
What to be done with clinical approach of Neuroanatomy?
You cannot leave any clinical case regarding Blood Supply, Spinal Cord, Cerebellum though you can do Parkinsonism from Basal Ganglia. All clinicals showing up radiographs are beyond your subject, do not try wasting time which you cannot understand.
Tips:
1. Consult past papers
2. Draw diagrams by yourself on neat piece of paper and make it again and again
3. Give just one day during revision
4. Do not mix up tracts, write on a plan sheet with functions.
5. Take it easy.
