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http://medicalmnemonics4u.blogspot.com | Dr. Shajil | 1st Edition MM4U MEDICAL PICTURE MNEMONICS

Medical Picture Mnemonics

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Page 1: Medical Picture Mnemonics

http://medicalmnemonics4u.blogspot.com | Dr. Shajil | 1st Edition

MM4U MEDICAL PICTURE MNEMONICS

Page 2: Medical Picture Mnemonics

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MEDICAL PICTURE MNEMONICSNobody has super memory. In the course of education, there would have been many instances whereyou find memorizing things difficult. Some people develop liking for a subject, which they rememberbetter. Some revise a lot. Some develop their own techniques to remember - MNEMONICS is one sucheffort.

There are a lot of enemies against your MEMORY - stress, anxiety, lack of sleep, nutritional deficiencies,full stomach, hypoglycemia and many more. Even if eliminated everything, sometimes you will end upnot remembering the name of third generation Cephalosporins or you get CONFUSED with similar thingsor facts.

When I joined medical school it was very difficult for me to remember the vast amount of new names,facts and the confusion level was also very high. Thanks to the efforts put from various quarters, Iovercame everything right from my first year to Post graduation. I thought that I share with you themnemonics I gathered over these years and which I am still making.

The site http://medicalmnemonics4u.blogspot.com is specially dedicated to the medical student whoworks a lot, burns midnight oil and still has confusion or could not recall names.

However, it must be remembered that mnemonics should only be a stepping stone on the ladder toknowledge and not a weapon to destroy the true logic of events. In other words, it's not a by heartingtool. Too much of mnemonics is also bad. Only accept what is suitable for you, because you may behaving your own logic to remember things. I hope this book and website benefits all doctors of todayand tomorrow.

Dr. Shajil

http://medicalmnemonics4u.blogspot.com

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Picture Mnemonic - Causes of Polyneuropathy

Causes of Polyneuropathy are marked in red. Read the story behind the picture shown:The hero Mr. Guillain Barre is Diabetic (Remember D.D.D - Diabetes, Diptheria,Dapsone). He is researching on AIP (Acute intermittent porphyria). Mr. GB is a Christian(vinCRISTINe)- note him wearing a cross).

His CAR is parked outside (CARbon tetrachloride & CARcinoma).

Note the things in his room - Fan (PHENytoin), a big mosquito out to suck blood(Represents Chloroquine). On his table is a glass of water - it contains Arsenic.

His Daughter (represents Hereditary cause), in a night dress, stained with ANILINEDYE, is bringing something from the kitchen in a pan of LEAD. The poor girl has beensuffering from HYPOTHYROIDISM for quite a few years. Mr GB is so busy with hisresearch that doesnot have time to eat and has developed Nutritional Deficiency.

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The Cephalosporins

First Generation Cephahlosporins - Remember this story:

Mr. Fazol (ceFAZOLin) is a Lorry Driver (cephaLORIdine). He works very hard and hasbecome Thin (cephaloTHIN) He has a "Rad" Watch on his hand (cephRADine) and a"Lux" soap (cephaLEXin). He wears a bright green Drawer {i.e trousers} ( cefaDROxil)

Route of drug administration: He will put the Lux soap in his Drawer - (Cefalexin &Cefradine are given orally. The latter can also be given i.v. /.i.m.. All others- i.v. /.i.m)

Second Generation Cephalosporins: Remember FOX, FUR, FAC -ceFOXitin, ceFURoxime, ceFAClor

Third Generation Cephalosporins - The story goes thus:

Mr. Aziz (ceftAZIdime) is taking an Ox (ceftizOXime, cefpodOXime) in a Taxi(cefoTAXIme) for slaughtering, i.e. an Operation (cefOPERAZONE). For this purposehe is taking Three Axon blades (cefTRIAXONe). He will Fix (ceFIXime) the ox for dinner(cefDINIR) in a short time!

Route of drug administration: Fix the price and eat (only Cefixime is given oral: allothers im/iv).

ADRs: Operation will cause bleeding (Cefoperazone cause bleeding)

Fourth Generation Cephalosporins:

My wierd dream: QUEEN of ROME who FLEW to OZONE layer, fell down and wasmade IP (Inpatient) by ME. Helps you to remember fourth generation cephalosporins -Cefquinome, Cefpirome, Cefluprenam, Cefozopran, Cefipime.

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Microbiology - Special Stains

You know Gram stain is for Bacteria, Acid Fast for Mycobacterium (also Nocardia).Remember other special stains below:

Giemsa : CAmpylobacter, Malaria, Leishmaniasis (CAMeL) (Remember the picture ofGiemsa Camel above)

Silver stain : pNEumocystis (CARnii), FUNgi, LEGionella (Remember the picture above: it's a SILVER NEW CAR with FUNny LEGs)

MuciCaRmine - CRyptococci

Periodic Acid Schiff: FUNgi, amoeba (A FUNny amoeba just PASsed away)

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Ricketsial diseases and causitive organisms

Ricketsial POX : R. AKArI (see the picture above - AKAI)

ePidemic typhus : R. Prowazekii

Rocky mountain spotted fever : R. Riketssi

Q - Fever : COXiella BURNetti ( Imagine Camel & OX walking in a queue i.e. "Q" in aBURNing desert)

Srub typhus : R. TSUTSUgamushi (Imagine the sound while scrubbing - TSU TSU TSUTSUgamushi; alternatively remember only SUsugamushi, with "t" silent for ScrUb)

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Anatomy of Thoracic duct

Thoracic duct lies between Azygous vein and Oesophagous

Remember: The DUCK is between two gooses (duck = thoracic duct) 2 gooses =azyGOOSE and esophaGOOSE (see picture)

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Ewings tumor

The above picture gives mnemonic for Ewing's tumor. First let us analyse the picture.Note the chick and swelling of Diaphysis of Tibia with the onion. Chick says VAC VACVAC VACA, VAC VAC VAC AV / CV. The chick has fat and hence PAS stain positive.Note the moon and star at the top, Radio streaming music and chick fluttering it's wingsup and down to the music as represented by 2 arrow marks at the left side. See themelted snow below the bone and a blood vessel from the side ( left corner )

Now, this is what the picture says: Ewings - the chick with wings; Arises from Diaphysis,most common bone is Tibia. Seen in children as represented by the chick. Onionrepresents the onion peel appearance in X-rays. The wings going up and down ( arrows) represent that the size of tumor increases and decreases ( H/O Exacerbations andremissions ). The moon & star represents the clinical feature that pain is worse at night.Radio represents that the tumor is extremely radiosensitive - therefore melts like snow.Spread is by blood vessels and lymphatics. And what the chick says is thechemotherapy regimen - VAC ( Vincristine, Adriamycin, Cyclophosphamide ), VACA (VAC + Actinomycin ), AV alternating with CV.

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Number of Bones

Total number of bones in human body = 206. ( See the picture - bon(e) lookslike 206 if altered as seen in the picture; Still you will have to use yourimagination a little )

Total no. of bones in Face = Fourteen

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Sensory supply of C6

How do test the sensory supplied by C6? See the picture - it gives sensory supply of C6

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First Rank ( Positive symptoms ) of Schizophrenia

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Kawasaki's Disease

This visual mnemonic gives you the clinical features of Kawasaki disease. Imagine aChild on Kawasaki bike with red lips, tongue, body rash with cervical lymphadenopathyhaving a heart thrash ( Coronary aneurysm ) seeing a beautiful nurse who has thetreatment needed for him. Note that Kawasaki disease is C- ANCA +ve as painted onthe bike. The clinical features are depicted as a song, which you can try to sing in thetune of Titanic's song, "my heart will go on...."

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Mind maps help you to revise faster and memorise better

Mind maps are an effective way to revise and memorise faster. Above is an example ofmedical mnemonics depicted in the form of mind map.

The following websites give you free medical mind maps:

http://medicalmaps.blogspot.com

http://www.medmaps.co.uk

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TIPS TO MAKE NOTES:

Use high quality notebook. Use standard textbooks to make your own notes. Revise,revise and revise the same notes. Make your own pictures. Use colours. You willremember better.

The above colourful notes are taken fromhttp://www.instantanatomy.net/anatomy.html

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Wegener's Granulomatosis

Wegener's granulomatosis affects the upper and lower respiratory tracts and the kidney.As depicted in the visual mnemonic, URTI, LRTI, Epistaxis, Hemoptysis,Glomerulonephritis are few of the manifestations of this disease. It is C-ANCA positive.Treatment is with antibiotics, corticosteroid, Azathioprine, Cyclophosphamide etc.

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Cole - Cecil Murmur

COLe-Cecil murmur is heard in Aortic Incompetence in AxIlla.

Remember AIshwarya RAI ( Miss world, 1994 ) likes Coco-COLa

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Anatomical snuff box

To remember the structures of anatomical snuffbox, look at your right hand and extendyour thumb. You see three prominent tendons. The tendon in between is a brevistendon - Extensor policis brevis. The tendon that meets it from the extensor surface istherefore extensor policis longus. The remaining tendon going in different direction ofExtensor Policis Brevis is Abductor Policis Longus. Note that the longus goes paralleland brevis converges on both ends.

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Fallot's Triad, Tetrad and Pentad

To remember the Fallots, read this story along with the picture mnemonic :

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Characters in the story and what they represent:

Ant - ASD

Parrot - Pulmonary stenosis

Rabbit - Right Ventricular Hypertrophy ( RVH )

Owl - Overriding of Aorta

Vulture - VSD

'3' represents Fallot's Triad, '4' - Tetrology of Fallot, '5' - Fallot's Pentad

The story: The Ant, Parrot and Rabbit ( 3 ) were living happily. Vulture and Owl arecoming at 4 o'clock - an announcement informed them. The Ant was afraid that it wouldbe eaten and went away in fear. At 4 o'clock the Vulture and Owl came. So there wasthe Owl, Vulture, Parrot and Rabbit ( 4 ) living together now. The newcomers came toknow about the Ant. They promised that they won't eat the ant. So the Ant came backand all the 5 (Owl, Ant, Vulture, Parrot and Rabbit ) lived happily ever after.

Now, just substitute what the animals / insects / birds originally represent and you willremember the Fallots.

Now, just substitute what the animals / insects / birds originally represent and you willremember the Fallots.

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Erb's and Klumpke's brachial palsies

Erb's - Upper trunk ( C5, C6 ) {See the picture mnemonic above - imagine the '6' toresemble 'b' of erbs ; 's' resembles '5' }

Klumpke's - Lower Trunk ( C7, C8, T1 )

Remember 'E' comes before 'K' in alphabetical order, so Erb's is upper and Klumpke'slower trunk.

Now Klumpke's start with C7. Note that K-L-U-M-P-K-E is 7 letters.

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Milestones in Pediatrics

Child draws a circle at 3 years, cross at 4 years, square at 5 years and triangle at 6years.

I think that the visual mnemonic is self explanatory. Start from head ( Circle ), imaginethe ears to be '3'. Put them together and remember that child draws circle at 3 yrs. After3, remember what the child draws at 4,5 and 6 yrs by coming down from the top of thefigure. After head, you see the cross necklace - at 4 yrs. Come down further, imaginethe body to be a square ( at 5 yrs ). The frock represents triangle which child draws at 6yrs.

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Anti Tuberculous Drugs (ATT)

Remember the REP ( Medical representative ) offering you an iPod. Let us name himas iREP ( REP offering iPod ). He tells you, " give me 5, 10, 15, 20 - 35 prescriptions toget an iPod ".

Here's the interpretation:iREPS stands fori - INH - 5mg/kgR - Rifampicin - 10mg/kgE - Ethambutol - 15mg/kgP - Pyrazinamide - 20-35mg/kgS - Streptomycin - 20-35mg/kgTheir dosages per kg are 5, 10, 15, 20-35, 20 - 35 respectively.Which of these are Bacterocidal?Of these, the ones that RIPS bacteria are the R, I, P, S.

To remember certain striking side effects see below:INH - I Have NeuritisRifampicin - Red man syndromeEthambutol - Eye affected ( Retrobulbar neuritis )Streptomycin - Song is difficult to hear ( Oto toxicity)

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Huntington's Chorea

Remember the story : A Korean (Chorean) hunter, HUNTING 4 CROws to DATE aCOW

Now, here's the facts: Huntington's Chorea gene is on ChROmosome 4Pathology is in CAUDATE (COW DATE) nucleus

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Aortic regurgitation : Peripheral signs

This is a picture mnemonic which will help you remember the peripheral signs of Aorticregurgitation (AR) which is much talked about in the clinics.

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Carpal Tunnel

Remember the picture to memorise the structures passing through the carpal tunneland those passing superficial to it.

Structures passing through the carpal tunnel:

MediAN nerve (policeMAN) - Compression causes carpal tunnel syndrome

Flexor POLICis longus (POLICe jeep)

FDS, FDP (FD = Fixed Deposit in piggy bank)

Radial & ulnar Bursa (piggy Bank)

Structures passing superficial to carpal tunnel

PALMaris LONGus (LONG PALM tree)

Cutaneous branch of MediAN Nerve (boy = small MAN; Big policeMAN was MediANnerve, so small man represents cutaneous branch)

UlNar nerve (Umen = woman)

Cutaneous br. of UlNar nerve (small Umen = small woman = represented by girl in thepicture)

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Learn microbiology through picture mnemonics

A must have book, “Clinical Microbiology made ridiculously simple” if you get confusedbetween Streptococcus, Staphylococcus etc etc. There a few unbeatable cartoonswhich are picture mnemonics. Also has lots of Tables.

See the examples from Staphylococcus chapter. The cartoons depict Staphylococcusas a warrior. Did you note the first picture? Well it depicts a staff (Staphylococcus) witha CAT in front of them - Represents that staphylococcus is CATalase positive. Theother series of pictures depict it as a warrior with various virulence factors - Coagulase,protein A, hyaluronidase, Leukocidin, Hemolysin etc.

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DDH - Facts and associations

The picture mnemonic will give you facts and associations of Developmental Dysplasiaof Hip (DDH)

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WANT MORE MEDICAL MNEMONICS?For latest picture and regular mnemonics, tips, free e-books, and lots of other stuff, please visithttp://medicalmnemonics4u.blogspot.com

If you want to contribute a mnemonic to this site please direct to [email protected]

Kindly send other useful tips and material helpful to medicos, doctors, dentists, nurses, paramedicals allover the world to the same e-mail mentioned above.