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Drawing: A Tool For Learning Anatomy

Last updated on May 17, 2022 By Dan Baumstark, MSPT, CHT Leave a Comment

As any first-time student struggling with learning anatomy will tell you, the body is as complex as it is interesting. Organs, joints, muscles, tendons, fascial structures, bones, and ligaments all have specific three-dimensional relationships to one another that serve to optimize function. The learning and retention of this complex anatomy requires something that students who are “rote memorizers” have difficulty with: spatial orientation. How you may ask can we improve our spatial orientation skills in studying anatomy?

Procure paper and colored pens/pencils. Even those of us who are “artistically challenged” can bolster the learning process through repeatedly drawing out anatomical structures. I tend to use different illustrations and photos from varying textbooks and atlases for practice. Here are a few helpful hints regarding this learning modality.

1. Start with outlining the involved shapes. Start with less complexity and work your way into more detail. If you are terrible at making basic contours or following shapes with your hand, start with tracing the basic shapes by placing a sheet of paper over an atlas illustration and copying.

anatomical drawing of human hand

2. Use color as a means of differentiation. If you are drawing out the bones of the hand and you want to emphasize the metacarpals, simply outline the metacarpals in a different color. (See illustrations above).

anatomical drawing human elbow

3. Use layering of color as a means of clarifying three-dimensional orientation. Start with the deepest structures first and then layer the more superficial structures over them. This may make the drawing a bit more messy (see illustration of the elbow above), but I have found that it does enhance one’s understanding of the involved structures and their functions.

4. Practice. Our brains require repetition to develop skills, and drawing is no different. You will find that with time you will start to retain information better and may even develop the ability to draw out structures without any visual cues for guidance!

Filed Under: Physical Therapy Tagged With: Hand Wrist & Elbow



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About Dan Baumstark, MSPT, CHT

Dan is a licensed Physical Therapist in the District of Columbia, license #PT2916. He has a Masters of Science degree in Physical Therapy from Washington University in St. Louis, MO. Dan specializes in sports medicine & upper extremity rehabilitation. He is a Certified Hand Therapist, certified by the American Society of Hand Therapists (initial certification date 11/6/2004, certification #1041100023). Dan has extensive continuing education in manual therapy from the Michigan State University School of Osteopathic Medicine.
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