Physiology is one of the most important subjects, medical students learn in medical school. Medical school physiology is similar to undergraduate physiology but different from biochemistry and anatomy. If truth be told, physiology is the basis of medicine that is mainly focused on diseases, pathology and clinical medicine. Mastering the concepts of physiology is also important for medical students to score better in USMLE Step 1.
Unlike anatomy, physiology is not about memorization, it is all about understanding how different bodily systems work and coordinate with each other. Instead of learning terminologies and facts, physiology mainly focuses on concepts, principles, and interconnections.
Since physiology is the foundation of medicine, it is important for medical students to understand the normal and abnormal functions of humans. It means learning physiology will improve your concepts of pathology and other important subjects you learn during medical school.
If you want to learn how to learn physiology, here are some important tips and tricks for medical students that will definitely make you a topper in physiology.
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Regularly Attend Your Lectures
Okay, it is one of the most important tips to master the concepts. You need to regularly attend your lectures to improve your understanding of the subject. There are many concepts and medical terms, you can easily learn and memorize by simply hearing. Furthermore, don’t forget to take lecture notes. By taking notes, you can easily prepare yourself for the exam season. Note-taking helps you a lot during revision times and retains information for a longer period. Make sure to note down those points that are important. Adding a flowchart or relevant diagram can help you remember the point.
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Use Flashcards
It is one of the best learning strategies for medical students that make remembering concepts and processes easier for medical students. One of the best things about flashcards is that they can be accessed from anywhere, anytime. You can test your knowledge and analyze your progress by using flashcards. By using flashcards, you force your mind to recall the concepts repeatedly and correlate the critical points. It also sharpens your critical thinking skills while allowing you to score good grades in medical school and board exams. You can incorporate this learning technique into your study plan to solidify your knowledge.
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Test Your Knowledge by Using Question Banks
Taking quizzes is one of the most effective learning strategies to assess your knowledge. Since physiology is about learning medical terminologies and learning what their functions are. Taking a medical terminology quiz can help you quickly learn complex words. Similarly, other physiology question banks can solidify your knowledge.
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Mind Mapping
When it comes to studying physiology, mind mapping is a useful learning approach that works best for medical students. While learning physiology, you will notice, everything is interconnected. For instance, if you learn the names of different hormones, and their functions, it will become easier for you to understand how various bodily functions are performed. By linking one concept to another, you can better understand human principles. Sticky notes are a great concept to learn the relationship between different hormones, organs and diseases.
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Use Learning Resources
If you are one of those students who are searching for how to study physiology in medical school, then you should equip yourself with all the learning resources to improve your concepts of physiology. Use the internet or ask your teachers and seniors about physiology books, pathophysiology books, YouTube channels, and other learning resources. You will also find online tutorials to understand and memorize complex things. There are many online courses that are especially designed for medical students to understand physiology and prepare them for medical school exams.
To Sum All Things Up
These are a few study tips and learning strategies for learning physiology that can help you absorb the most important information from the subject. In medical school, reading textbooks is not enough to gain an in-depth understanding of the subject. You need to take lectures, take notes, use flashcards, take frequent quizzes and watch videos to grasp the information better. These strategies will not only help you learn physiology but also prepare you for the USMLE Step 1 and eventually a competent doctor.
