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Anatomy Mnemonics (Easy to Remember)

Anatomy has more list-heavy content than almost any other 1st Year MBBS subject: cranial nerves, carpal bones, plexus branches, and dozens of other structures that need to be recalled in order. This page compiles easy-to-remember mnemonics for the most commonly tested Anatomy topics, so you can hold long lists steady in memory while you build understanding of each structure. These are memory aids to support revision, not a substitute for understanding structure, relations, and function.

SME-reviewed. Updated 2026.
Open GeckoMed for the full anatomy mnemonics collection and notes in one place.

Dedicated Anatomy Mnemonic Pages

For a full breakdown of each mnemonic with its structure-by-structure explanation, visit these dedicated pages:

More Anatomy Mnemonics

Rotator Cuff Muscles: SITS

Letter

S

Muscle

Supraspinatus

Letter

I

Muscle

Infraspinatus

Letter

T

Muscle

Teres Minor

Letter

S

Muscle

Subscapularis

Tarsal Bones: Order From Proximal to Distal

A simple way to remember the seven tarsal bones in sequence.

Order

1

Bone

Talus

Order

2

Bone

Calcaneus

Order

3

Bone

Navicular

Order

4

Bone

Medial Cuneiform

Order

5

Bone

Intermediate Cuneiform

Order

6

Bone

Lateral Cuneiform

Order

7

Bone

Cuboid

Extraocular Muscles: Actions by Nerve Supply

A quick recall device for which cranial nerve supplies which extraocular muscle, remembering that the Lateral rectus and Superior oblique are the exceptions.

Muscle

Lateral Rectus

Nerve Supply

Abducens (CN VI)

Muscle

Superior Oblique

Nerve Supply

Trochlear (CN IV)

Muscle

All Other Extraocular Muscles

Nerve Supply

Oculomotor (CN III)

Muscles of Mastication: Innervation

All muscles of mastication share a single nerve supply, which makes this an easy but frequently tested recall point.

Muscle

Temporalis

Nerve Supply

Mandibular division of Trigeminal (CN V3)

Muscle

Masseter

Nerve Supply

Mandibular division of Trigeminal (CN V3)

Muscle

Medial Pterygoid

Nerve Supply

Mandibular division of Trigeminal (CN V3)

Muscle

Lateral Pterygoid

Nerve Supply

Mandibular division of Trigeminal (CN V3)

How These Mnemonics Appear in Exams

  • Short answer questions asking you to enumerate a list, such as "Enumerate the tarsal bones" or "Name the muscles of the rotator cuff"
  • Viva questions asking you to identify a structure on a specimen and then name its nerve supply
  • Applied questions linking a mnemonic-based list to a clinical scenario, such as rotator cuff injury or an extraocular muscle palsy
  • Long essay questions where a mnemonic helps you structure a complete answer without missing a component

Frequently Asked Questions

Are these official examination mnemonics?

No. These are memory aids compiled by GeckoMed to help you recall lists of structures accurately and in order. They support revision but are not a substitute for understanding anatomy, relations, and clinical correlation.

Which MBBS year uses these mnemonics most?

Anatomy is a 1st Year MBBS subject, so these mnemonics are most relevant then, though several, such as rotator cuff and extraocular muscle mnemonics, are revisited in Orthopaedics and Ophthalmology in later years.

Can mnemonics replace understanding anatomical structure?

No. Mnemonics help you recall lists completely and in the right order. You still need to understand attachments, relations, nerve supply, and applied anatomy for exam questions that go beyond simple recall.

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