Mastering Anatomy for NEET-PG and INI-CET in Just 6 Days

Daily Targets

  • Read/Revise 3–4 hours.
  • Solve 120–150 MCQs (30 per block, timed).
  • Make 4–6 mini‑cards/day (foramina contents, nerve roots, surface lines, embryology derivatives).

Day 1 — General Anatomy, Histology & Embryology Core

General anatomy & osteology

  • Anatomical position, planes, terms of movement; skin lines, Langer lines.
  • Bone types (long/short/flat/irregular/sesamoid); primary vs secondary ossification centers; common ages of fusion.
  • Joints: fibrous/cartilaginous/synovial; types of synovial (hinge, pivot, plane, condyloid, saddle, ball‑and‑socket) with examples.
  • Muscle architecture (parallel, pennate) and actions; tendons vs aponeuroses; bursae.
  • Arterial anastomoses (scapular, genicular); end arteries examples.
  • Lymphatics: superficial vs deep; watershed areas; sentinel nodes concept.

Histology quick map

  • Epithelia: simple vs stratified; keratinized vs non‑keratinized; pseudostratified with cilia (respiratory); transitional epithelium.
  • Glands: merocrine/apocrine/holocrine; serous vs mucous acini.
  • Cartilage: hyaline (type II), elastic, fibrocartilage (type I+II) + typical sites.
  • Bone: lamellar vs woven; Haversian systems; osteoblast/osteoclast basics.
  • Muscle: skeletal vs cardiac vs smooth (intercalated discs, dense bodies); NMJ idea.
  • Blood: formed elements; granulocytes vs agranulocytes, quick identifiers.
  • Organs: lymph node, spleen, thymus triad features; liver lobule/classic vs acinar concept; kidney cortex vs medulla identifiers.

Embryology — high‑yield

  • Gametogenesis → fertilization → implantation timeline; gastrulation; notochord; neurulation; body folding.
  • Germ layer derivatives (ectoderm/neuroectoderm, mesoderm subdivisions, endoderm): hallmark structures to memorize.
  • Pharyngeal apparatus: arches, pouches, clefts, membranes; derivatives and common anomalies.
  • Aortic arch derivatives; fetal circulation (shunts: foramen ovale, ductus arteriosus, ductus venosus) and closures.
  • Diaphragm development (septum transversum, pleuroperitoneal membranes, mesentery of esophagus, body wall) + congenital hernias.
  • Face & palate development; tongue development (arches, innervation); thyroid descent, thyroglossal cyst idea.
  • GI rotation & midgut hernia; vitelline duct anomalies; foregut/midgut/hindgut blood supply.
  • Kidney ascent; ureteric bud vs metanephric blastema derivatives.

Day‑1 MCQs focus

  • Ossification centers; joint types with examples; epithelial IDs; arch derivatives; fetal shunts; diaphragm defects; vitelline duct anomalies.

Day 2 — Neuroanatomy & Head–Neck Essentials

Neuroanatomy — spinal cord & tracts

  • Spinal cord levels, enlargements, conus/filum; dermatomes (C5 shoulder, T4 nipple, T7 xiphisternum, T10 umbilicus, L1 inguinal ligament, L4 knee, S1 lateral foot).
  • Ascending tracts: DCML (fine touch, vibration, proprioception), spinothalamic (pain, temperature, crude touch) — levels of decussation.
  • Descending tracts: corticospinal; extrapyramidal quick cues.
  • Reflexes & root values (biceps C5–C6, triceps C7, knee L3–L4, ankle S1).

Neuroanatomy — brainstem, cerebellum, thalamus, basal ganglia

  • Brainstem cross‑sections: cranial nerve nuclei levels; medial vs lateral syndromes basics (medullary, pontine, midbrain).
  • Cranial nerves: origins, nuclei, exits, functional components (GSE/GSA/GVE/SVE/SVA); parasympathetic ganglia.
  • Cerebellar peduncles and lesions (intention tremor, ataxia); vestibulocerebellum vs spinocerebellum vs cerebrocerebellum.
  • Thalamic nuclei (VPL/VPM/LGN/MGN) and projections; basal ganglia loops; subthalamic lesion → hemiballismus concept.

Neuroanatomy — cerebrum & blood supply

  • Internal capsule limbs and fibers; capsular stroke patterns.
  • Limbic system basics; hippocampus (memory) vulnerability.
  • Ventricular system & CSF flow; choroid plexus; aqueduct stenosis.
  • Blood supply: ICA vs vertebrobasilar; ACA/MCA/PCA territories; watershed zones; Circle of Willis; venous sinuses & emissary veins.
  • Visual pathway & field defects; macular sparing pointer.

Head & neck — skull base & foramina (memorize)

  • Anterior/middle/posterior cranial fossa; superior orbital fissure; optic canal; foramen rotundum/ovale/spinosum; lacerum, jugular foramen, hypoglossal canal; mastoid foramen — contents lists.

Head & neck — regions

  • Scalp layers; dangerous area; emissary veins.
  • Face: facial nerve branches; parotid gland relations; retromandibular vein; external carotid branches.
  • Temporal & infratemporal fossa; TMJ basics; maxillary artery parts; pterygoid venous plexus.
  • Pterygopalatine fossa gateways; sphenopalatine for epistaxis concept.
  • Orbit: extraocular muscles, actions, innervation (LR6 SO4, rest 3); annulus of Zinn; ophthalmic artery; superior orbital fissure contents.
  • Nasal cavity & paranasal sinuses; meati & openings; drainage patterns; Kiesselbach area.
  • Pharynx (NASO/ORO/LARYNGO) walls & muscles; tonsillar bed relations; adenoid location.
  • Larynx cartilages; intrinsic muscles; recurrent laryngeal nerve; vocal cord positions.
  • Tongue muscles & innervation; blood supply; lymph drainage; taste pathways.
  • Triangles of neck; carotid sheath contents; thyroid & parathyroid relations; recurrent laryngeal on right vs left.
  • Cervical fascia; retropharyngeal & danger spaces; spread of infection.

Day‑2 MCQs focus

  • Tracts and decussations; brainstem syndromes; CN nuclei & exits; visual fields; skull base foramina contents; orbit muscle actions; sinus drainage; laryngeal nerve injuries.

Day 3 — Thorax, Abdomen & Retroperitoneum

Thorax

  • Thoracic wall: intercostal spaces; neurovascular bundle order (VAN); internal thoracic artery.
  • Breast anatomy & lymph drainage (axillary groups, internal mammary); surface anatomy of quadrants.
  • Mediastinum divisions & key contents; pericardium layers; cardiac chambers & valve areas.
  • Coronary arteries: dominance; branches; common occlusion sites; conduction system.
  • Aortic arch branches; coarctation concepts; ligamentum arteriosum relation to recurrent laryngeal.
  • Lungs & pleura: lobes, fissures; bronchopulmonary segments; pleural recesses; root of lung relations; azygos lobe variant.
  • Azygos system; thoracic duct course; esophagus relations and constrictions; vagal trunks.

Abdomen — wall & hernias

  • Layers of abdominal wall; rectus sheath above/below arcuate line; inguinal canal boundaries; deep/superficial rings; spermatic cord contents.
  • Direct vs indirect inguinal hernia; femoral canal (lacunars, boundaries); Hesselbach triangle.

Peritoneum & mesenteries

  • Greater/lesser sacs; epiploic (Winslow) foramen boundaries; omenta; mesenteries & ligaments; Morrison pouch.

Upper abdomen organs

  • Stomach curvatures; blood supply (left/right gastric; gastroepiploic; short gastrics); portacaval relations.
  • Liver segments (Couinaud concept); porta hepatis; Calot triangle; portal vein formation; gallbladder surface marking.
  • Pancreas relations (uncinate with SMA/SMV); pancreatic ducts; splenic artery tortuous course.
  • Spleen surfaces; hilar relations; ribs 9–11; avulsion risk.
  • Duodenum parts & relations (D2 head, bile/pancreatic ducts); ligament of Treitz.

Mid‑ & hindgut

  • Jejunum vs ileum features; mesenteric windows; SMA territory.
  • Colon: taeniae, haustra, appendices epiploicae; appendicular artery; McBurney point.
  • IMA territory; marginal artery of Drummond; rectosigmoid junction.
  • Portal‑systemic anastomoses (esophageal, paraumbilical, rectal, retroperitoneal) and portal hypertension sequelae.

Retroperitoneum & posterior wall

  • Kidneys: relations (ant/post), hilum order (VAU), segmental arteries; constrictions of ureter; ureter relations (gonadal vessels, uterine artery “water under the bridge”).
  • Suprarenal gland shapes & relations; vascular supply (3 arteries, 1 vein).
  • Abdominal aorta branches (paired/unpaired); IVC tributaries; cisterna chyli.
  • Diaphragm: origins, insertions, openings (T8 IVC, T10 esophagus + vagal trunks, T12 aorta + azygos + thoracic duct); referred pain to shoulder (C3–C5).

Day‑3 MCQs focus

  • Inguinal/femoral hernia boundaries; Winslow foramen; Calot triangle; SMA/IMA territories; portal anastomoses; ureter relations; diaphragm openings.

Day 4 — Pelvis & Perineum, Upper Limb, Lower Limb, Radiology & Surface Anatomy

Pelvis & perineum

  • Pelvic inlet/outlet; true vs false pelvis; sex differences.
  • Pelvic diaphragm: levator ani (puborectalis, pubococcygeus, iliococcygeus) and coccygeus; urogenital diaphragm concept.
  • Perineal pouches (superficial/deep); perineal body; ischioanal fossa, pudendal canal contents.
  • Male: prostate lobes; urethra parts (preprostatic, prostatic, membranous, spongy); vas deferens course; seminal vesicle; ejaculatory ducts.
  • Female: uterus (positions, supports); broad ligament contents; uterine artery course (above ureter); ovaries & tubes; pouch of Douglas; episiotomy areas.
  • Rectum & anal canal: above vs below pectinate line (artery, vein, lymph, nerve); internal vs external hemorrhoids.

Upper limb

  • Osteology: clavicle, scapula, humerus (surgical neck, radial groove), radius/ulna; carpal bones & common fractures (scaphoid, lunate).
  • Pectoral girdle & axilla; axillary artery parts; brachial plexus (roots → trunks → divisions → cords → branches); classic lesions (Erb/Klumpke).
  • Spaces: quadrangular, triangular; contents.
  • Nerves: musculocutaneous, median (carpal tunnel), ulnar (cubital tunnel/Guyon), radial (spiral groove, PIN) — motor/sensory, palsy signs.
  • Arterial arches of hand; anatomical snuffbox; lumbricals/interossei actions; thenar vs hypothenar.
  • Joints: shoulder (rotator cuff), elbow (carrying angle), wrist/hand ligaments.
  • Dermatomes & myotomes of UL.

Lower limb

  • Osteology: hip bone landmarks; femur (neck‑shaft angle); patella; tibia/fibula; tarsals (talus, calcaneus, navicular, cuboid, cuneiforms).
  • Gluteal region: superior/inferior gluteal nerves; sciatic nerve; Trendelenburg sign; safe IM quadrant.
  • Thigh compartments; femoral triangle, adductor canal; popliteal fossa contents; genicular anastomosis.
  • Leg compartments; common peroneal at fibular neck; foot drop; tibial nerve tarsal tunnel.
  • Knee ligaments: ACL/PCL/MCL/LCL; menisci; unhappy triad; Q‑angle idea.
  • Arches of foot; plantar aponeurosis; plantar interossei vs dorsal interossei actions.
  • Veins: great/small saphenous; perforators; varicose concept.
  • Dermatomes & myotomes of LL.

Radiology & surface anatomy

  • Chest X‑ray PA: cardiac borders, hila, diaphragm, costophrenic angles; silhouette sign idea.
  • CT brain basic levels: basal ganglia, ventricles; midline shift; SAH clues.
  • FAST basics; IVP silhouette ideas; barium swallow outlines (constrictions).
  • Surface lines: apex beat; heart valve auscultation points; abdominal organ surface projections.
  • Surface marking: arterial pulses; central venous access landmarks; safe injection quadrants; lumbar puncture levels.

Day‑4 MCQs focus

  • Pelvic floor & perineal spaces; pectinate line differences; brachial plexus lesions; nerve injury signs; ACL/PCL tests; vascular surface marks; CXR silhouettes.

Rapid Revision (Last Evening)

  • Foramina contents (optic canal, SOF, rotundum, ovale, spinosum, lacerum, jugular, hypoglossal) — one‑liners.
  • Cranial nerves: nuclei, exits, parasympathetic ganglia.
  • Dermatomes key points (C5 shoulder, T4 nipple, T10 umbilicus, L1 inguinal, S1 lateral foot).
  • Diaphragm openings & vertebral levels (T8/T10/T12).
  • Calot triangle; portal anastomoses; ureter relations (“water under the bridge”).
  • Brachial plexus map & classic palsies; hand muscle innervation memory cues.
  • Lower limb nerve lesions (common peroneal vs tibial); Trendelenburg; foot arches.
  • Pelvic supports of uterus; pectinate line neurovascular differences.

Practice Pattern (all days)

  • Timed MCQ blocks → immediate review → write one rule learned from each error.
  • Vignette flow: identify → first step → next test → key relation/derivative.
  • Mini‑cards to carry: foramina contents; nerve roots/reflexes; dermatomes/myotomes; arches/pouches/clefts derivatives; hernia triangles; diaphragm openings; portal anastomoses; brachial plexus.
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