Anatomy Mnemonics

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.