Learn Anatomy for Health Sciences - Tracey’s Story

Tracey McNamara found Kenhub through the same way that many of our users do. She was stressed out and overwhelmed with the prospect of learning anatomy and physiology for health sciences, and just couldn’t seem to get the knowledge to stick.

Being a visual learner, Tracey knew that there had to be a better way to learn than from her textbooks crammed full of writing with little visual respite. On finding Kenhub, she describes the feeling of relief that washed over her as she was finally able to conquer the art of retaining and recalling anatomical structures and concepts.

We asked Tracey to share her inspiring story with the Kenhub community. Here’s what she had to say.

How to Remember Anatomy Concepts

What first brought you to Kenhub? How did you know it was right for you?

So when I first started studying Anatomy and Physiology, I found the information to be extraordinary but the volume to be overwhelming, finding myself struggling to remember terms and functions and associations between the two. The more I stressed over not being able to retain information the less information I could retain.

Don't get me wrong, the textbooks I have are incredible wealths of knowledge but the amount of text was very off-putting for me and difficult to digest. Being someone who is more of a visual learner, I searched for supportive tools within this scope and was so excited when I came across Kenhub. I found the website very engaging and used resources to further support my learning. I remember the relief that washed over me when I started to both retain and recall terms and concepts more easily. That was when I knew that bringing Kenhub into my life was the right decision.

What was the biggest challenge for you in learning anatomy? How did Kenhub make this process easier for you?

Similar to that above; my textbooks, while they include diagrams and images, are primarily text-heavy and I found that my memory retention and recall was really lagging, causing me to feel both stressed and overwhelmed. For instance, I could get as far as remembering that a particular structure related to the digestive system but everything else in terms of location and function(s) was quite foggy. I felt like I was virtually starting from scratch each semester in terms of learning concepts.

So I began using the Kenhub articles, videos and quizzes to support my textbook readings; I will never forget the feeling of joy and relief when I easily began to recall the names/terms and locations for the various structures within the digestive tract, without that learned knowledge fading once the semester had finished. The Kenhub resources also strengthened my understanding between various structures and functions as they allowed for a foundational picture to be painted which I could move forward from.

The Need for Visual Anatomy

Which feature of Kenhub was most useful for you and why?

A combination of the videos and quizzes - generally I will watch a video which outlines the various structures of a given organ or system and then follow up this learning with the respective quiz to ingrain the understanding.

I love that [with Kenhub] a given image or diagram doesn't change between learning resources and that each aspect of an organ for instance, is broken down by highlighting a focused structure in a different colour while it's being explained. It provides both an anatomical emphasis in terms of location as well as a visual linkage of the overall connection between structures within a given organ or body system. This colour focus is what my memory retains and recalls which readily permits me to identify various body structures.

How do you think Kenhub's approach to teaching anatomy compares to other products on the market?

I feel Kenhub is an invaluable tool for learning anatomy; it acts as a bridge of sorts for me as it both enhances and cements information from other resources by way of visual support. The way information is presented and formatted is highly engaging, reliable and trustworthy, and either gives me a head-start on textbook concepts or breaks down textbook readings into something I am better able to grasp, therefore feeding my curiosity rather than my confusion. In some cases I then go on to use YouTube videos to further support my Kenhub learnings, but I feel the gap is too great in primarily using YouTube videos to visually support textbook concepts.

Health Science Anatomy and Physiology

How was studying anatomy different to what you had studied in the past, and how did you approach learning a new subject?

Prior to Anatomy and Physiology I had been studying psychology which was vastly different in comparison, being more theoretical based.

However, it involved anatomical concepts in terms of the structure and function of the brain. At the time I found it difficult to memorise and retain this information both during and after completing assignments and exams. I wish that I had known of Kenhub prior to commencing my initial Anatomy and Physiology subjects as it would have made the learning process much smoother, less stressed and more enjoyable - but I am grateful to be using it now.

Do you have a favorite anatomical region?

That's a tricky question but I'd have to say the abdominopelvic cavity - it fascinates me how such a relatively small area has the capacity to hold so many vital structures, as well as the diversity of functions that take place within that space.

What are you currently studying for, and why is learning anatomy important for ensuring your success in this field?

I am currently studying Health Science in Naturopathy which involves multiple anatomy and physiology subjects as the course progresses.

Practitioners must have a thorough understanding of how the human body works, why functions are carried out as well as the connections between the various body systems in order to understand overall health and wellbeing. Without this knowledge and understanding there is no way I would be able to determine which aspects of a client’s body require support or why, and therefore, I would not be able to offer sound, constructive and effective treatment or advice in order to holistically support and optimise their health.

Is there any advice you'd like to share with naturopathy students just starting out in their anatomy education?

My advice to beginning naturopathy students would be to investigate your learning style as well as all learning tools which may support you in your studies.

I would encourage students to give Kenhub a go. Whether used as a primary or supplementary support tool, Kenhub will promote confidence in learning and understanding the concepts within anatomy and physiology, as well as enhancing overall knowledge.

WILDCARD! You're stuck on a desert island - what body part will come in most useful?

Opposable thumbs!

Thank you for sharing your fascinating learning path, Tracey! The naturopathy community will be very lucky to have you.