Practical material for the lab and the desk.
These pre-lab checklists, study guides, terminology references, and reading lists supplement your course materials. They offer practical starting points, not replacements for your institution's official assignments, assessment criteria, or policies.
For students in undergraduate A&P
How to study A&P, the science of learning, applied
Practical ways to space study, retrieve answers from memory, mix related topics, and explain ideas in your own words. With references to learning research.
Lab notebook starter guide
How to set up a useful lab notebook from week one of A&P. Seven habits for recording observations, distinguishing interpretations, and preserving corrections.
A&P terminology survival guide
Anatomical position, planes, directional terms, and common Greek and Latin word parts. Includes examples for decoding unfamiliar terms and mnemonics paired with the names they help you recall.
Common A&P misconceptions
Recurring points of confusion, organized by body system: carotid and jugular venous pulses, ileum and ilium, afferent and efferent pathways. Each entry explains the distinction and why it matters.
Weekly study cycle template
Print 8.5×11. A weekly schedule for spaced review and retrieval practice, plus a 16-week tracker. Fill in your unit and dates, then adjust the plan to your course.
Pre-lab checklist (night-before-lab)
Print 8.5×11. A planning routine for the night before an A&P lab: logistics, vocabulary, and notebook setup. Includes steps for arrival and practice during the session, plus an abbreviated version for a busy morning.
For pre-health applicants
A&P reading list, what to buy or borrow
Textbooks, atlases, science-of-learning books, and board-prep references, with a verdict on each. Marieb vs Saladin vs Tortora; Netter vs Rohen vs Gilroy. Includes “what to actually buy” recommendations by student tier.
What to expect in your first college anatomy lab
What may differ from high-school biology, how to prepare for week one, and four study habits to reconsider. Includes guidance on checking pre-health prerequisite requirements.
For peers & coordinators
A&P practical assessment rubric system →
Six rubric types, ten worked unit packets covering A&P I and II, and a TA calibration protocol. Uses explicit pass / not-yet criteria, shared vocabulary, and examples to support consistent scoring. Print 8.5×11 for clipboard use at the grading station.
Lab equipment & vendor reference
Equipment recommendations drawn from a 1,000-student A&P program: microscopes, models, specimens, slides, and disposables. Check current specifications and quotations.
Multi-section scheduling template
Print 8.5×11. Three pages: weekly section grid, prep-day → lab-day operational cycle, equipment rotation & health tracker. For programs running 12–24 sections of one lab in a week.