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Reply 20
terpineol
Assuming you go to them, or the lectures actually cover what they set in the learning objectives.... Lets ignore the existence of the PBL epidemic for the poor souls out there inflicted with it.

I find some books more accessible and easy to learn than the set texts, many of the lecturers prefer to base their lectures on other texts, or constantly point out errors in the set texts (most commonly marieb and drake).

I would suggest owning two or three anatomy texts is always a good idea, a different set of diagrams or interpretation in text can often make something that didn't make sense before become clear.

Last's anatomy (I would put the author in but I can't find the blasted book) is very useful for providing a different perspective I find.

Kumar and clarke I don't get on with, but would council against buying if you can 'borrow' someones GMC number and get it for free online with univadis.


Fair point about the lectures, I have a tendancy to forget that PBL exists for those poor, poor people. We've had one session of PBL so far, in the first week, it was probably just to encourage "group bonding". Horrifying stuff.

Though I don't always go to all lectures, but we do get the slides on moodle and we get a pack of lecture notes before we begin another module :proud:
Jessaay!
Fair point about the lectures, I have a tendancy to forget that PBL exists for those poor, poor people. We've had one session of PBL so far, in the first week, it was probably just to encourage "group bonding". Horrifying stuff.


Indeed, I believe it has been described as the greatest crisis in human history, though I may be thinking of AIDS.
Reply 22
terpineol
Indeed, I believe it has been described as the greatest crisis in human history, though I may be thinking of AIDS.


No, no, I think you might be right in thinking it's PBL.
They made us buy that too, it does make an excellent coaster though.
Reply 24
We get loads of lecturers flogging stuff like that. Then you read the recommendations and realise they've written it.
crazylemon
none of them wrote this.
Tbf the one that recommended and immunology book had it right. Just enough stuff for now, though ofc this could be a problem in the furture.



Currently I am using it :O
Only because I prefer written prose.
And to procratinated doing the cd questions


As for the PBL haters it isn't that bad. Sometimes interesting but I tend to get lost in paper space going 'oooo that looks like it could be relevant...' 3 hours and 10 papers later you have forgotten to write a thing down :colonhash:


I bet you are one of those advocates of abstinence based control.

In fairness it surely can't be as bad as my experiences of it thus far. Or perhaps one just has to go through stages of acceptance with it.

Back on subject though I highly recommend the colouring in anatomy book.


Let me know if you need any more notes by the way.
Reply 26
I dunno, I guess I just feel like PBL is gimmicky. It's meant to be to promote independent learning and group work etc but I don't think it always works THAT well because at the same time, when I do things like that, it always feels like I've missed something or something is incorrect.
terpineol
I bet you are one of those advocates of abstinence based control.

In fairness it surely can't be as bad as my experiences of it thus far. Or perhaps one just has to go through stages of acceptance with it.

Back on subject though I highly recommend the colouring in anatomy book.


Let me know if you need any more notes by the way.


:lolwut: where did that come from

I have a love hate relationship with PBL. I go through stages of ranting and hatred to stages of epiphany/delusion (delete as appropriate) thinking it makes sense as an effective teaching method.
Colouring book is good. Made my hallmates laugh when they realised medicine has colouring books but I think they are jealous because maths is rubbish.

Thanks but currently I know the basics I need to memorise fiddly detail which thanks to the nature of MCD is fiddly detail spread across lots of micro subjects as opposed to one block. Annoying but must be done as it seems form past questions they love to pick a table at random from one of the slides and make you fill it in.
Textbooks :coma:

Rang and Dale's Pharmacology



Integrated Pharmacology



Guyton and Hall's Physiology



Also recommend the Crash Course series for revision :sogood:
crazylemon
:lolwut: where did that come from

I have a love hate relationship with PBL. I go through stages of ranting and hatred to stages of epiphany/delusion (delete as appropriate) thinking it makes sense as an effective teaching method.
Colouring book is good. Made my hallmates laugh when they realised medicine has colouring books but I think they are jealous because maths is rubbish.

Thanks but currently I know the basics I need to memorise fiddly detail which thanks to the nature of MCD is fiddly detail spread across lots of micro subjects as opposed to one block. Annoying but must be done as it seems form past questions they love to pick a table at random from one of the slides and make you fill it in.


It was a dreadful attempt to keep the whole PBL/AIDS confusion thing going, but it was an epic fail really.

Everyone laughs at the colouring in book, before asking if they can do a page. Even chemists.

I've not tried the other colouring books if anyone has any opinions on them.
terpineol
It was a dreadful attempt to keep the whole PBL/AIDS confusion thing going, but it was an epic fail really.

Everyone laughs at the colouring in book, before asking if they can do a page. Even chemists.


I've not tried the other colouring books if anyone has any opinions on them.


I will start using it in the kitchen then :colone:
Essential Clinical Anatomy - Moore & Agur. Recommended book for Aberdeen anatomy. Don't buy it, it's :snow::snow::snow::snow:. The diagrams make you sit there with your head twisted 270 degrees trying to figure out what the hell you're looking at. 2/10

Netter's Anatomy flashcards - awesome. Perfect for grabbing a region of flashcards, sticking them on the provided ring, and dumping in your handbag for opportunistic revision (and disgusting friends by showing diagrams of dissected penises in the pub). 8/10

Macleod Clinical Examination - The Aberdeen clinical skills exams are based on this baby (cos one of our ID consultants still edits it). Really good, lots of pictures of the signs, etc. 7/10

Anatomy Colouring book - 10/10. We are wallpapering our flat with photocopies and arming ourselves with Crayolas.

Essential Orthopaedics & Trauma (Dandy/Edwards) - wonderful, lots of really clear x-rays. And an obsession with cats - "the cat does not fracture its clavicle". Brill for Phase II musculoskeletal/ortho blocks. 8/10

Underwood's Path is good in theory but is generally used as a doorstop. Explains things pretty well when you do actually read it. 7/10

Essential Surgery - really really good! Esp for GI block as it explains the diseases as well as the operative treatments. Plus tons of pretty bloody pictures. 8/10

K&C - I have it, I hate it, but I don't like Davidsons any better... K&C just goes into crazy detail and it's far too big! 5/10

Lippincott's Biochem - good flowchart diagrams for chemical processes

Medical Genetics at a glance - covers genetics at exactly the right level of detail for me! But useless if you want in-depth stuff.

Pharmacology at a glance - so much lighter to lug around than Rang&Dale. Covers the basics of pharm for each system/specialty. Diagrams look a bit complex at first but are really good once you figure out what it's doing.

OHCM = Bible.
Reply 32
Essential Cell Biology = Useless until you get to iBSc year - if you do anything vaguely involving a cell - then it gets quite important, although the depth to which you need to know stuff means you've be trawling for reviews anyhow. Although the happiest textbook cover I've seen for a LONG time. Preclin = 2/10, Cell based iBSc = 6/10

Human Physiology - Pocock and Richards = Snorefest for me, the text is a little on the small side and the writing is a little dry, but explains the content really well - also bonus as it covers the ESR systems that UCL wants for 2nd year but in a drier, more technical way than the recommended textbook. 7/10

Rang and Dale's Pharmacology - very very good for it, very wordy but you do understand what went on afterwards - although it's a library borrow rather than a purchase. 7/10

Medical Pharmacology at a Glance - once you've digested the Rang and Dale chapter - this is THE revision book. There is a lot of info crammed into each picture and is very useful once it comes to revision - covers all the necessary topics for UCL at least. Only loses 0.5 for only being in green or black false colour. 9.5/10

Human Reproduction at a Glance - old edition - not that great - given how awesome the rest of the at a glance series generally is. Saving grace is the description of sex - which is so dry and awkward that it's quite funny. Newer edition have removed the references to 'objects' entering the vagina - going for 'penis' instead. 3/10

'How to read a paper' - Greenhalgh - Quite interesting - incorporates all of the stats etc that UCL teaches in preclin and makes it relevant. 9/10

Dean and Pedginton Vol. 1 2 and 3 - Fairly good anatomy books - things go by at a million miles per hour but if you can follow the descriptions - you do learn from it. If anyone has bothered reading the introduction - it is also a colouring book - pretty much all the diagrams in mine have been coloured. Also - contains MCQs that come up in UCL exams. However, weak in description on the larynx and pelvic area. 7.5/10
Reply 33
General questions to ask yourself before buying an expensive textbook:

Does this go into the appropriate level of depth for my learning?
There is little point buying a textbook that goes into either way too little, or way too much detail. Having said that, always err on the side of too much detail. The more you know, the better - even if it isn't directly relevant or necessary.

Am I going to be using this alot?
This is one of the hardest to answer. This is why you should be careful about buying any textbooks until you actually get to university. If you keep needing to use the same book from the library, maybe it is worth buying.

Does this look like something I would like to read?
It doesn't matter how great the content is if the layout is frustrating - you will not want to get near the thing, however much your fresher enthused mind will tell you will.

Is it readily available in the library?
Most university libraries are well equipped. Using them frequently can save you money.

How big and heavy is it?
Big heavy tomes are not fun to carry around long distances, and take up lots of space. Think about how and where you will use each textbook and whether it is the appropriate size. It also gives you an indicator into the level of depth of which it delves into.

Despite your lecturers urging you to use the latest edition, the changes made between each edition usually aren't that significant, so don't think that all previous editions are automatically useless.

Have a look at reading lists, but don't go out of your way buying lots more than you need.

One more thing I would recommend is the Oxford Concise Medical Dictionary for those who like to be precise on their definitions. It comes in particularly useful in lectures.
Reply 34
Oxford Handbook for the Foundation Programme.

Spoiler

Never bought a textbook in store. www.medicprint.com tends to work out cheaper than Amazon, even with postage added.
Reply 36
Any recommendations for an easy to use embryology textbook? Langman's doesn't seem particularly exciting.
Reply 37
Personally, For anatomy = Grays, full edition (stolen from the library) I like the descriptions. And Lasts, regional and applied Ed. Sinnatamby. Lasts reads like a dickens in places, but its like a story and gives you tricks to remember stuff by eg:

muscles of forearm - place heel of hand over opposit medial epicondyle, palm lying on forearm. Trace the fingers

thumb - pronator teres
index - flexor carpi radialis
middle - flexor digitorum superficialis
ring - palmaris longus
little - flexor carpi ulnaris.

and because not everyone is married - or has a RING, palmaris longus can be absent in about 20%

You've just learnt a compartment, origen and course.

There is one other that no-one really uses - Gosling et al, human anatomy colour atlas, it has awesome dissected piccys, although description is on the sparse side.

Neuroanatomy - we're recommended Crossman and Neary, pictures are awesome, although some of the Profs grumble that it dosn't do detail. Titus is the one I use.

Pharmacology is R&D.
Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology by Martini is my favourite textbook, it seems to contain everything and is incredibly clear.

I also use Larsen for Embryology which is pretty damn comprehensive, and then Stryer for Biochemistry. Everything else I get individual books on that subject for from the library.
Reply 39
cocomango
Any recommendations for an easy to use embryology textbook? Langman's doesn't seem particularly exciting.


I use 'The developing human' by Keith L. Moore for embryology..so far i liked it :yep: