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Table of Contents
The Geeky Medics list of anatomy mnemonics has been curated to help you remember important anatomical concepts and facts.
Upper limb
Attachment of latissimus dorsi: “Lady Between Two Majors”
Latissimus dorsi attaches to the humerus between pectoralis major and teres major.
Rotator cuff muscles: SITS
- Supraspinatus
- Infraspinatus
- Teres minor
- Subscapularis
See our guide to the intrinsic muscles of the shoulder.
Structure of the brachial plexus: “Reach To Drink Cold Beer”
- Roots
- Trunks
- Divisions
- Cords
- Branches (nerves)
See our overview of the brachial plexus.
Contents of the cubital fossa: “Really Need Beer To Be At My Nicest”
From lateral to medial:
- Radial Nerve
- Brachial Tendon
- Brachial Artery
- Median Nerve
Muscles involved in elbow flexion: “Three Bs Bend the Elbow”
- Biceps brachii
- Brachialis
- Brachioradialis
Carpal bones: “Some Lovers Try Positions That They Can’t Handle”
Starting from the thumb:
- Scaphoid
- Lunate
- Triquetral
- Pisiform
- Trapezium
- Trapezoid
- Capitate
- Hamate
See our guides to the bones of the hand and the wrist joint.
Median nerve supply to the hand: LOAF
- Lateral two lumbricals
- Opponens pollicis
- Abductor pollicis brevis
- Flexor pollicis brevis
Actions of the interosseous muscles of the hand: PAD DAB
- Palmar interossei: ADduction
- Dorsal interossei: ABduction
See our guide to the intrinsic muscles of the hand.
Lower limb
Contents of the femoral triangle: NAVEL
From lateral to medial:
- Nerve
- Artery
- Vein
- Empty space
- Lymphatics
Femoral triangle boundaries: SAIL
- Sartorius
- Adductor longus
- Inguinal Ligament
Abdomen
Borders of the inguinal canal: MALT
- Muscles (roof)
- Aponeurosis (anterior wall)
- Ligaments (floor)
- Tendon (posterior wall)
See our guide to inguinal hernias.
Retroperitoneal structures: SAD PUCKER
- Suprarenal (adrenal) Glands
- Aorta/IVC
- Duodenum (2nd / 3rd part)
- Pancreas (not the tail)
- Ureters
- Colon (ascending and descending)
- Kidneys
- (O)esophagus
- Rectum
Abdominal wall muscles: TIRE
- Transversus abdominis
- Internal oblique
- Rectus abdominis
- External oblique
See our guide to the muscles of the anterior abdominal wall.
Meckel’s diverticulum: “The Rule of 2s”
- 2% of the population
- 2 times more common in males
- 2 inches (5cm) long
- 2 feet proximal to the ileocecal valve
- 2 types of mucosal lining (gastric and pancreatic)
Branches of the coeliac trunk: “Left Hand Side”
- Left gastric
- common Hepatic
- Splenic
See our overview of the abdominal aorta.
Thorax
Atrioventricular valves: LAB RAT
- Left Atrium: Bicuspid
- Right Atrium: Tricuspid
See our guides to thoracic anatomy.
Innervation of the diaphragm (phrenic nerve): “C3, C4, C5 keep the diaphragm alive”
Diaphragm apertures
Count the number of letters:
- Aortic hiatus: 12 letters (=T12)
- Oesophagus: 10 letters (=T10)
- Vena cava: 8 letters (=T8)
Serratus anterior: “SALTy WINGS”
- Serratus Anterior is innervated by the Long Thoracic nerve
- Loss of function results in a Winged scapula
Nerve roots of the long thoracic nerve: “C5, 6, 7 reach to heaven”
- C5, C6, C7 are the nerve roots of the long thoracic nerve
Head and neck
Layers of the scalp: SCALP
- Skin
- Connective tissue
- Aponeurosis
- Loose connective tissue
- Pericranium
Structures passing through the foramen ovale: OVALE
- Otic ganglion (lies inferior)
- V3 (mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve)
- Accessory meningeal artery
- Lesser petrosal nerve
- Emissary veins
Contents of the cavernous sinus: O TOM CAT
O TOM are lateral wall components, in order from superior to inferior. CA are the components within the sinus, from medial to lateral. CA ends at the level of T from O TOM
- Oculomotor nerve
- Trochlear nerve
- Ophthalmic branch of trigeminal nerve
- Maxillary branch of trigeminal nerve
- internal Carotid artery
- Abducens nerve
- Trochlear nerve
Extraocular muscles: LR6 SO4 3
- Lateral rectus: 6th cranial nerve (abducens)
- Superior oblique: 4th cranial nerve (trochlear)
- Everything else: 3rd cranial nerve (oculomotor)
Cranial nerves: “On, On, On, They Travelled And Found Voldemort Guarding Very Ancient Horcruxes”
Note – many other different versions of this mnemonic exist!
- Olfactory nerve (CN I)
- Optic nerve (CN II),
- Oculomotor nerve (CN III)
- Trochlear nerve (CN IV)
- Trigeminal nerve (CN V)
- Abducens nerve (CN VI)
- Facial nerve (CN VII)
- Vestibulocochlear nerve (CN VIII)
- Glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX)
- Vagus nerve (CN X)
- Accessory nerve (CN XI)
- Hypoglossal nerve (CN XII)
See our cranial nerve summary.
Tonsils: “PPL (people) have tonsils”
- Pharyngeal
- Palatine
- Lingual
See our oral cavity examination guide.
Dermatomes
Cervical
- “C7 the middle finger to heaven”
Thoracic
- T4 nipple: “teet pore” (sounds like T4)
- T10 umbilicus: “Bellybuten“
Lumbar
- L4: Knee “On all fours“
Sacral
- S1: “Small toe”
See our overview of dermatomes and myotomes.