The following is a classification and description of the most common mistakes made on anatomy lab practicals.

1. Mis-identification

• a. Incorrect choice
  • The correct answer is a similar structure in the same area
    • i.e., you know what structures are found in the area but lack criteria to distinguish them, thus end up guessing (wrongly)
  • Solution:  Have specific criteria that allows you to distinguish between similar structures
    • e.g., CN IX, X and XI all exit the jugular foramen; how can you distinguish them?
    • e.g., geniohyoid, genioglossus and myloyhoid all appear in sagittal section; how can you distinguish them?

• b. Confusing arteries and nerves
  • This will diminish as you gain experience but it will take work; i.e., it won't happen on its own
  • Solution:  Develop criteria to distinguish these structures and test these criteria by applying them until you come up with a fool-proof method
    • e.g., although similar in color, nerves are solid often with a distinguishable core of fibers; in contrast, arteries have lumens and thus exhibit contours suggestive of hollowness
    • e.g. the nature of branching is distinct between nerves and arteries
    • e.g., look for fine vessels covering the structure; these are found only on arteries

• c. Mis-orientation
  • The correct answer is a similar structure but with a different orientation
  • This usually occurs on isolated elements (heart, lung, limb, bone) or when viewing the specimen from an atypical position
    • e.g., anterior vs posterior interventricular artery
    • e.g., sartorius vs gracilis at the knee (two strap-like muscles attaching to medial aspect of tibia)
    • e.g., dorsal vs ventral roots in a laminectomy (dorsal roots encountered "first"; i.e., more superficial)
  • Solution:  Remember , the first step in identifying any structure, particularly on isolated elements, is to orient the specimen!

2. Naming errors

• a. Similar sounding names
  • e.g., cricoid vs coracoid
  • e.g., ramus vs root
  • This is where a knowledge of etymology is helpful
  • Remember anatomical (as opposed to clinical) names are not random sounds strung together to produce impressive but meaningless pronouncements but are typically simple descriptive words derived from Latin or Greek
    • e.g., cricoid = (Greek) ring + like
    • e.g., coracoid = (Greek) crow (particularly its beak) + like
    • clearly the cricoid cartilage is ring-shaped and doesn't resemble a crow's beak
  • Solution:  Take the time to look up the etymology of new words; your vocabulary will build with time and after a while you will begin to figure out the meanings without reference to a dictionary.

• b. Incomplete names
  • e.g., carotid artery rather than common carotid, or external carotid or internal carotid artery
  • Adjectives in anatomical names are rarely superfluous and indicate the presence of a similarly named structure in a different region
    • e.g., anterior vs posterior intercostal artery
    • e.g., ventral vs. dorsal sacral foramen
  • Solution:  Understand the meaning and significance of each term in a name

• c. Nonsensical answers
  • e.g., "levator oris m."
  • oris (L.) refers to the mouth which is an opening; thus, while one can have a muscle that surround (orbits) an opening (i.e., orbicularis oris m.), one cannot have a muscle the elevates an opening (sic "levator oris m."). In the words of Johnny Cochran "It makes no sense!"
  • Similarly, the mouth (oris) is surround by lips (labii) which can be elevated, thus, levator labii superioris m
    • e.g., "hyo-hyoideus m."
  • Such a muscle could exist (interhyoideus; and does in many craniates) but its attachments would be distinct from mylohyoideus or the other hyoid muscles all of which take their names from their attachments
  • Solution:  Another example where understanding names (etymology) and how muscles are named can be helpful

• d.Naming structures for which you are not responsible
  • e.g., medial lumbar intertransverse m.
  • Solution:  Use your dissection list as a study guide rather than blindly studying all the structures illustrated in your atlas

• e. Ambiguous spellings
  • e.g., urether; is this individual trying to say ureter or urethra?
  • Solution:  Write out the dissection list 2 or 3 times (takes 20 minutes tops) to improve spelling and avoid ambiguous answers

3. Mental errors (doh!)

• a. mismatching answer and tag #
  • Solution: Re-check all answers to make sure structure and answer line numbers match
  
  
• b. Senior moment (i.e., no explicable reason for answer)
  • Solution:  Get used to it; they will only become more frequent!

1.    Establish region and orientation (forelimb, hindlimb, dorsal, ventral, lateral, etc.)

2.    Establish general identification (muscle, vessel, nerve, gland, etc.)

3.    Establish specific identification

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