When taking classes at our massage school, many students are pleasantly surprised at the depth of knowledge expected of them. As 2004 East West College graduate Nancy Failla explains, “When I came to East West, I had no idea how hard the anatomy and physiology classes were going to be. I actually thought it was mostly going to be massage and hands on. It was surprising, but in a good way, because the curriculum was so intense and so thorough that I felt like I was in premed school.” As a result of these high academic standards, many East West College grads find they are preferentially hired after completing our Portland massage therapy program.
That also means that East West students must work hard to succeed in their anatomy and physiology classes. Today we’re presenting a few online study tools that students in massage therapy schools can use to bolster knowledge learned in class and in textbooks.
Study Tools for Anatomy and Physiology Massage Therapy Classes
1. InnerBody.com splits the body into its different systems. Under each system you will find in-depth content on how the body works, along with individual pages for each feature. As an example, on the muscular system page you can read an overview of the types of muscles, how muscles are named, and how they work together in groups, along with muscle cell structure, muscle function, and much more. You can click on any body part to drill down to view descriptions and images of specific muscles. Many body systems are viewable in 3D. This site seems like a fun way to review information before a test.
2. YouTube has hundreds of anatomy videos. One of our favorite channels is Somanaut, created by Anatomy teacher Gil Hedley. At the Somanaut page you can view dissections of several different body systems. Mr. Hedley is passionate about connective tissue, so check out his videos for a sophisticated understanding of fascia.
3. Google Books has posted sections of dozens of Anatomy texts, from Grant’s Atlas of Anatomy to Anatomy of the Moving Body. If you want to search for a specific area of anatomy, we recommend visiting google.com/books, and then clicking on “Search Tools” in the top menu bar. Then, click on “Any books” to the left and select “Preview available.” This will exclude Book results with no visible preview.
4. University of Washington’s Muscle Atlas. Created by Dr. Michael Richardson, this comprehensive site lists dozens of muscles, with origin, insertion, action, innervation, and arterial supply information listed. An image of each muscle is also included. Again, this is a good tool for review.
5. Loyola University’s Structure of the Human Body course website includes dozens of educational resources for the anatomy student, including muscle lists and tables, self-lead courses, and interactive study tools. Upon visiting the page, click on “Educational Resources” on the left sidebar menu. There, you’ll find plenty of helpful tools to help you ace anatomy!
These online tools are handy for self-lead study. Many of our students find that the best way to learn is to set aside plenty of time on their own and with supportive study groups. Our campus’ student lounge includes a main area where students can gather, as well as a quiet study room. The bookstore also boasts a library where students can use computers to get online.
Be diligent in your studies, believe in yourself, and you will succeed in passing anatomy and physiology, invaluable courses for a career in massage.
Sources:
somanaut. www.youtube.com
What are the best online resources for studying the human body?. www.quora.com
