Thursday, January 9, 2014

Submissions: Mnemonic for arterial involvement in atherosclerosis

The aorta is most commonly involved by atherosclerosis; followed by coronaries, popliteal arteries, carotids and circle of Willis.
Mnemonic: Aortic crocodiles popping from car of Willis.

This is high yield information, I remember an multiple choice question being asked in my Pathology exam on this. They particularly asked which part of the aorta is most commonly involved in atherosclerosis. So don't forget that it's the abdominal aorta!

Here is a nice image to go with the mnemonic to help you remember:

How to make medical mnemonics

As medical students, we have a lot of information we need to memorize. Mnemonics makes things easier. If you make them yourself, you are more likely to remember them!
So we are going to learn how to make mnemonics! Yaay!

 

Monday, January 6, 2014

Baroreceptors mnemonic

I didn't have time to edit so I uploaded the video in it's very raw form.
Hope it helps though! =)




Saturday, January 4, 2014

Cell mnemonics

Layers of the epidermis mnemonic:
"Cornea is lucid, granules are spiny"
Silly association to remember the sequence: Cornea is the outermost layer of the eye, and the base is always the innermost layer.
Cornified layer (stratum corneum)
Clear/translucent layer (stratum lucidum, only in palms and soles)
Granular layer (stratum granulosum)
Spinous layer (stratum spinosum)
Basal/germinal layer (stratum basale/germinativum)

Sarcomere with various bands mnemonic:
Z is the end  of the alphabet and Z is the end of the sarcomere.
M is the middle of the alphabet and M is in the middle of the sarcomere.
Attached to the M line are your Mighty Myosin (Mighty = thick filaments)
"My tits" (Sorry for the vulgar language) is for remembering that myosin is attached by titin to the Z line.
Actin (acthin) is the thin filament attached to the Z line.

H is a thick letter so only thick filaments are found in the H band.
I is a thin letter so I band has only thin filaments!

Myosin doesn't like to change and is very bossy. So it not only took the middle M letter for the M line, but also took the A alphabet to represent itself (How mean, poor Actin! T_T)
PS: A band represents the thick filaments irrespective of the overlap, unlike H band.
So during contraction, A band doesn't change (The myosin only part)
The H and I band changes in width during contraction.

Cell junctions mnemonic:

Thursday, January 2, 2014

Mean systemic filling pressure

I never understood what it meant.

I found myself wondering.. What the heck is "The tightness with which the circulatory system is filled with blood." and what do you mean by "Pressure that exists in the vascular system if the cardiac output stops"?

Until one fine day I finally got it.

If you don't understand all those complicated (yet simple) terminologies and definitions.. You are just like me.. And I'm here to help you out =D
Here is how I understand it!

Imagine blood vessels are talking -
Mean systemic filling pressure simplified

Monday, December 30, 2013

Parotid tumors mnemonic

I had trouble remembering that Warthin's tumor is "Papillary cystadenoma lymphomatosum" and this happened.
Yes, feel the "Warth" (or maybe I'm just weird!)


Wrath of the Pa-cyst-ans? Warthin's tumor? Papillary-cystadenoma-lymphomatosum? YES!

Saturday, December 28, 2013

Bio-statistics mnemonics, tips & tricks

Hey everyone!

I thought of writing the whole blog at once as I have a lot of mnemonics and tricks but I barely get time and it has been pending for a long time now so I thought of publishing it, hoping I'll keep updating this post as and when possible :)

Relative risk and Attributable risk mnemonic

Which cell secretes what? Gastric mucosa histology mnemonics

"pH" for Parietal cells secrete H+ ions.
Parietal cells are also known as oxyntic cells.

"PC" for Pepsin is secreted by Chief cells.
(Chief cells are also known as peptic cells or zymogen cells.)
Alternate mnemonic: I think of master chef making food rich in proteins, peptides being degraded by pepsin and that's how I remember the association that Chief cells secrete Pepsin.

G for G cells & G for Gastrin. (Hah! That was easy!)

S for S cells & S for Secretin! (Medicine is easy!)

Thursday, December 26, 2013

Cardiac Output and Venous Return curve mnemonic

Let's have some fun! =D

A diagram to brush up your memory..
(And to remind you it's all simple & easy and that you've got this!!)

Cardiac Output and Venous Return curve simplified
I used to freak out when I first starting seeing this graph and related multiple choice questions in question banks. It's only in a matter of time that I realized these problems need only three variables to be figured out to choose the right answer!

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Case scenarios: When you don't give patients 100% O2 and why

Clinical scenario #1: Chronic lung disease patient.

The ventilatory drive of patients with chronic lung disease is primary due to their hypoxemia, rather than CO2 levels. This is because pCO2 receptors are adaptive. Chronically elevated pCO2 makes central receptors unresponsive in COPD patients. Administration of a high O2 mixture to relieve the hypoxemia is contraindicated because this removes the hypoxic drive, leading to severe hypoventilation.

Clinical scenario #2: Drug overdose where central receptors are blocked.

Monday, December 23, 2013

Healthy food: Salads


Hey everyone!

I thought of sharing something that inspired me.. It's about nutrition (Not my regular study post!)

In this age where cardiovascular problems and cancer have been on the rise like never before, it has become essential for us to eat healthy. We need to cut down on bad cholesterol and encourage fiber, nutrient rich, natural, unprocessed food.

Recently, there was a salad making competition held in my mom's school. Children of the second grade helped their mummy's make salads in the school.

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Difference between Iris repositor and IOL dialer

Iris repositor has a straight or bent "blade" with blunt edges.

IOL dialer has a bent "tip".

This diagram should help you -

Sunday, December 15, 2013

Human developmental index and physical quality of life index mnemonic

For Human Developmental Index remember, "Humans LIKe development"
So it takes into consideration: Life expectancy, Income & Knowledge.

Physical Quality of Life Index, "LIL physical quality"
It takes into consideration: Life expectancy, Infant mortality, Literacy.

For remembering the I in both mnemonics, I think that development is linked to money (income).
LIL should remind you of the little one, that is, the kid & hence infant mortality!

Friday, December 13, 2013

Mnemonics on nutrition

Hey guys!
These are some mnemonics I made on nutrition which is a part of my Preventive & Social Medicine (also known as Community Medicine).
We'll keep updating this section.
Please, please, please feel free to add your mnemonics as well ^__^

Deficiency of vitamin B1:
Thiamine deficiency causes Ber1 Ber1 (B1).

Deficiency of vitamin B2:
"A2 B2 C2"
A2 - 2 ATPs (FAD and FMN are derived from riboFlavin)
B2 - Vitamin B2
C2 - Cheilosis, Corneal vascularization
Let’s call it ri-two-bo-flavin!

Saturday, December 7, 2013

Innervation of the tongue, palate, pharynx & larynx with mnemonic

Hey everyone!
We are learning innervation of some muscles today! Yaay!

Glossal means pertaining to or near the tongue.. That's your starting point.

All muscles ending in "glossus" are supplied by hypoglossus
..Except palatoglossus.

Why? Because palate!

All musles of the palate are supplied by the vagus
..Except tensor veli palatani.

Why? Because it's a tensor!
All muscles in the head beginning with "tensor" are supplied by V3.

Pharynx and larynx is easy too.. All you need is a mnemonic!

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Competitive and non competitive inhibitors simplified


Let me present to you the most understandable, simplified, awesome analogy for explaining competitive and non competitive inhibitors =D