This is a list of human anatomy mnemonics, categorized and alphabetized. For mnemonics in other medical specialties, see this list of medical mnemonics.

Rotator Cuff

Scooby Investigated The Mysterious Scene

• Supraspinatus
• Infraspinatus
• Teres Minor
• Subscapularis

The humerus SITS in the glenoid fossa

• Supraspinatus
• Infraspinatus
• Teres minor
• Subscapularis

Bones of the Upper Limbs

How Rare U Cook Mesquite Pork?

• Humerus
• Radius
• Ulna
• Carpal bones
• Metacarpal bones
• Phalanges
• In order from proximal to distal

Hurry! Ralph Untie Cindy's Mini Pechay

• Humerus
• Radius
• Ulna
• Carpal bones
• Metacarpal bones
• Phalanges
• In order from proximal to distal

He Races Until Chunky Men Pace

• Humerus
• Radius
• Ulna
• Carpal bones
• Metacarpal bones
• Phalanges
• In order from proximal to distal

Bones of the Lower Limbs

From Pennies To Fives They May Pay

• Femur
• Patella
• Tibia
• Fibula
• Tarsal bones
• Metatarsal bones
• Phalanges
• In order from proximal to distal

Cranial Bones

F POETS "Fluffy Puppies On Every Third Street"

• Frontal
• Parietal
• Occipital
• Ethmoid
• Temporal
• Sphenoid

Fit People Occasionally Eat Table Salt

• Frontal
• Parietal
• Occipital
• Ethmoid
• Temporal
• Sphenoid

Fat People Only Eat Thick Steak

• Frontal
• Parietal
• Occipital
• Ethmoid
• Temporal
• Sphenoid

Fraternity Parties Occasionally Teach Spam Etiquette

• Frontal
• Parietal
• Occipital
• Temporal
• Sphenoid
• Ethmoid

Holes In Bone

FFNF "Fireman Fight Notorious Fires

• Foramen
• F issure
• Notch
• Fossa

Flowers Flow Neatly Fabulously

• Foramen
• Fissure
• Notch
• Fossa

Family Feuds are No Fun

• Foramen
• Fissure
• Notch
• Fossa

Projections of Bone

PTTTCC "People Take Teaspoons Temporarily Causing Constipation

• Process
• Tubercle
• Tuberosity
• Trochanter
• Condyle
• Crest

Joint In The Wrist

RIC "Rice Is Curing

• Radiocarpal
• Intercarpal
• Carpometacarpal

RIC "Really Interesting Crap

• Radiocarpal
• Intercarpal
• Carpometacarpal

Roads In California

• Radiocarpal
• Intercarpal
• Carpometacarpal

Rum In Coke

• Radiocarpal
• Intercarpal
• Carpometacarpal

Joints/Sutures of Skull

CLSS "Crazy Llamas Sassing Santa

• Coronal suture
• Lambdoid suture
• Squamosal suture
• Sagittal suture

The Lazy Cat Sleeps Safely

• Temporomandibular joint
• Lambdoid suture
• Coronal suture
• Squamous suture
• Sagittal suture

Bones of the Pectoral Girdle and Arm

CS "Continuous Starvation

• Clavicle
• Scapula

CS "Clearwater Sucks

• Clavicle
• Scapula

Crazy Seals

• Clavicle
• Scapula

Rotator Cuff Muscles

SITS "Sit In The Seat"

• Supraspinatus
• Infraspinatus
• Teres Minor
• Subscapularis

Shit I Trusted Scum

• Supraspinatus
• Infraspinatus
• Teres Minor
• Subscapularis

Swimming In The Summer

• Supraspinatus
• Infraspinatus
• Teres Minor
• Subscapilaris

She Is The Scientist

• Supraspinatus
• Infraspinatus
• Teres Minor
• Subscapilaris

Skull Sutures

"Come Sing Love Songs"

• Coronal Suture
• Sagittal Suture
• Lambdoid Suture
• Squamous Suture

"Come Smoke L 's Sam

• Coronal Suture
• Sagittal Suture
• Lambdoid Suture
• Squamous Suture

"Can Seagulls Lift Snacks

• Coronal Suture
• Sagittal Suture
• Lambdoid Suture
• Squamous Suture

Vertebral Regions

"Can The Ladies Stand Comfortably" "Candy Takes Liking Stripping Catiously"

• Cervical
• Thoracic
• Lumbar
• Sacral
• Coccygeal

(These are in order superior to inferior - or starting from the top of the spine to the bottom)

Can Tinkerbell Let Stars Collide

• Cervical
• Thoracic
• Lumbar
• Sacral
• Coccygeal

(These are in order superior to inferior - or starting from the top of the spine to the bottom)

Bones of the Hand

"Please Make Cookies"

• Phalanges
• Metacarpal bones
• Carpal bones

(These are in order from the distal end of the fingertips to the wrist)

"Please Massage Chest"

• Phalanges
• Metacarpal bones
• Carpal bones

(These are in order from the distal end of the fingertips to the wrist)

People Make Choices

• Phalanges
• Metacarpal bones
• Carpal bones

(These are in order from the distal end of the fingertips to the wrist)

Bones of the Arm

"Ultra Red Hair"

• Ulna
• Radius
• Humerus

"Ultimate Rave Headquarters

• Ulna
• Radius
• Humerus

Usually Really Hard

• Ulna
• Radius
• Humerus

Unemployment Rises High

• Ulna
• Radius
• Humerus

Bones of the Phalanges

Damn My Pinky!

• Distal phalanx
• Middle phalanx
• Proximal phalanx
• From distal to proximal.

Dick Move Pal!

• Distal phalanx
• Middle phalanx
• Proximal phalanx
• From distal to proximal.

Distance My People

• Distal phalanx
• Middle phalanx
• Proximal phalanx

Don't Make Problems

• Distal phalanx
• Middle phalanx
• Proximal phalanx

Afferent vs efferent

Afferent connection arrives and an efferent connection exits.

Anterior Flexor Muscles of the Forearm

Cats Run Circles Under Dogs Stomachs

• Carpi
• Radialis
• Carpi
• Ulnaris
• Digitorum
• Superficialis

Can't Really Come Until Day Six

• Carpi
• Radialis
• Carpi
• Ulnaris
• Digitorum
• Superficialis

Anterior leg Compartment

"The Hospitals Are Not Dirty Places"

• Tibialis anterior
• extensor Hallucis longus
• anterior tibial Artery
• deep fibular Nerve
• extensor Digitorum longus
• Peroneus tertius [aka fibularis tertius]^[1]

"Those Horses Are Never Doing Pilates"

• Tibialis anterior
• extensor Hallucis longus
• anterior tibial Artery
• deep fibular Nerve
• extensor Digitorum longus
• Peroneus tertius [aka fibularis tertius]^[1]

Posterior Leg Compartment (Posterior Ankle Structures)

Tom Dig A Nice Hole

• Tibialis posterior
• Flexor Digitorum longus
• Artery - Posterior tibial artery
• Nerve - Tibial nerve
• Flexor Hallucis longus

Brachial plexus

Remember To Drink Cold Beer - Roots, Trunks, Divisions, Cords, Branches

• Posterior cord branches
  • STAR - subscapular (upper and lower), thoracodorsal, axillary, radial
  • RATS- Radial nerve, Axillary nerve, Thoracodorsal nerve, Subscapular (Upper & Lower)nerve.
  • ULTRA - upper subscapular, lower subscapular, thoracodorsal, radial, axillary
  • ULNAR- Upper subscapular nerve, Lower subscapular nerve,Nerve to latissimus dorsi, Axillary nerve, Radial nerve.
• Lateral Cord Branches
  • LLM "Lucy Loves Me" - lateral pectoral, lateral root of the median nerve, musculocutaneous
  • Love Me Latha (LML) - Lateral pectoral nerve, Musculocutaneous nerve, Lateral root of Median Nerve.
  • Look My Lancer-Lateral pectoral nerve, Musculocutaneous nerve,Lateral root of Median nerve.
• Medial Cord Branches
  • MMMUM "Most Medical Men Use Morphine" - medial pectoral, medial cutaneous nerve of arm, medial cutaneous nerve of forearm, ulnar, medial root of the median nerve
  • "Money Makes Many Men Unhappy" - Medial pectoral nerve, Medial cutaneous nerve of arm, Medial cutaneous nerve of forearm, Medial root of median nerve, Ulnar nerve.
  • "M4U" - Medial pectoral nerve, Medial cutaneous nerve of arm, Medial cutaneous nerve of forearm, Medial root of median nerve, Ulnar nerve
  • Union of 4 Medials - Ulnar nerve, Medial cutaneous nerve of arm, Medial cutaneous nerve of forearm, Medial pectoral nerve, Medial root of Median Nerve.
• 5 main nerves of brachial plexus, in order laterally to medially
  • "My Aunty Rocks My Uncle" - Musculocutaneous, axillary, radial, median, ulnar.

Bowel components

"Dow Jones Industrial Average Closing Stock Report"^[1]

From proximal to distal:

• Duodenum
• Jejunum
• Ileum
• Appendix
• Colon
• Sigmoid
• Rectum

Carotid sheath contents

I See 10 CC's in the IV:^[1]p. 1

• I See (I.C.) = Internal Carotid artery
• 10 = CN 10 (Vagus nerve)
• CC = Common Carotid artery
• IV = Internal Jugular Vein

Cavernous sinus contents

O TOM CAT:^[1]p. 1

O TOM are lateral wall components, in order from superior to inferior.

CA are the components within the sinus, from medial to lateral. CA ends at the level of T from O TOM.

• Occulomotor nerve (III)
• Trochlear nerve (IV)
• Ophthalmic nerve (V1)
• Maxillary nerve (V2)
• Carotid artery
• Abducent nerve (VI)
• T: When written, connects to the T of OTOM

Celiac trunk(Coeliac trunk): branches

Left Hand Side (LHS):

• Left gastric artery
• Hepatic artery
• Splenic artery

Cranial bones

Old People From Texas Eat Spiders

• Occipital
• Parietal
• Frontal
• Temporal
• Ethmoid
• Sphenoid

Funny People Over Entertainment Try Songs

• Frontal
• Parietal
• Occipital
• Ethmoid
• Temporal
• Sphenoid

Vertebral column

can this little servant cook ?

• Cervical (atlas, axis)
• thoracic
• lumbar
• sacral
• coccygeal

"Can Tall Ladies Sit Comfortably"

• Cervical
• Thoracic
• Lumbar
• Sacral
• Coccygeal

(These are in order superior to inferior- or starting from the top of the spine to the bottom.)

Tributaries of the Inferior vena cava

"I Like To Rise So High"

• Iliac vein (common)
• Lumbar vein
• Testicular (gonadal) vein (direct tributary on right side; empties into left renal vein -> IVC on left side)
• Renal vein
• Suprarenal vein (same drainage as gonadal vein)
• Hepatic vein^[2]

Greater sciatic foramen

Structures passing through greater sciatic foramen below piriformis (S.N.I.P. N.I.P.)

• sciatic nerve
• nerve to obturator internus
• internal pudendal vessel
• pudendal nerve
• nerve to quadratus femoris
• inferior gluteal vessels
• posterior cutaneous nerve of thigh

Lesser sciatic foramen

Structures passing through lesser sciatic foramen: (P.I.N.T.)

• pudendal nerve
• internal pudendal vessels
• nerve to obturator internus
• tendon of obturator internus

Tarsal tunnel

a mnemonic to remember the contents of the Tarsal tunnel from anterior to posterior is "Tom, Dick and Harry".^[3][4][5] or alternatively "Tom, Dick (and very nervous) Harry" if the artery, vein, and nerve are included.

Subclavian artery

The branches of the subclavian artery can be remembered using VITamin C and D.

• Vertebral Artery
• Internal Thoracic Artery
• Thyrocervical Trunk
• Costocervical Artery
• Dorsal Scapular Artery

Posterior mediastinum

The contents of posterior mediastinum can be remembered using the mnemonic, "DATES"

• Descending aorta
• Azygous vein and hemiazygos vein
• Thoracic duct
• Esophagus
• Sympathetic trunk/ganglia.^[6]

Branch of trigeminal

Standing room only can be used to remember that:

• V₁ passes through the superior orbital fissure
• V₂ through the foramen rotundum
• V₃ through the foramen ovale.^[7]

Foramen magnum

Contents of the foramen magnum: VAMPS-ATM OR VAMPires Sing AT Midnight

• Vertebral arteries
• Anterior Spinal artery
• Meningeal branches of the cervical nerves
• Posterior spinal arteries
• Spinal part of the accessory nerve
• Alar and Apical ligaments of the dens
• Tectorial membrane
• Medulla oblongata

Cerebellum

Deep cerebellar nuclei and their positions relative to the midline: "Fat Guys Eat Donuts," where each letter indicates the medial to lateral location in the cerebellar white matter

• nucleus fastigii
• globose nucleus
• nucleus emboliformis
• dentate nucleus

Pes anserinus

A mnemonic to remember the muscles that contribute tendons to the pes anserinus and the innervations of these muscles is SGT FOT (sergeant FOT)

• S- Sartorius
• G- Gracilis
• T- semiTendinosus (from anterior to posterior).
• F- femoral nerve
• O- obturator nerve
• T- tibial division of the sciatic nerve.

Notice the order of the muscles (S, G, T) follows the order of the innervating nerves which correspond to those muscles (F, O, T)

Another anterior to posterior is “Say Grace before Tea” Sartorius, Gracilis, semiTendinosus.

Femoral triangle

The femoral triangle is shaped like the sail of a sailing ship and hence its boundaries can be remembered using the mnemonic, "SAIL":

• Sartorius
• Adductor longus
• Inguinal Ligament.^[8]

The order of structures in the femoral triangle is important in the embalming of bodies, as the femoral artery is often exposed and used to pump embalming fluids into the body. The order of this neurovascular bundle can be remembered using the mnemonic, "NAVY":

• Nerve
• Artery
• Vein
• Y -fronts (the British term of a style of men's underwear with a "Y" shaped front that acts as a fly). The "Y" is midline (corresponding with the penis) and the mnemonic always reads from lateral to medial (in other words, the Femoral Nerve is always lateral).

An alternate to this mnemonic is "NAVEL" for Nerve, Artery, Vein, Empty Space and Lymph, to include the deep inguinal lymph nodes located medial to the Femoral vein.

Popliteal fossa

A useful mnemonic to remember popliteal fossa anatomy (medial-to-lateral arrangement) is: Serve And Volley Next Ball.

• S: semimembranosus and semitendinosus (superior medial border)
• A: artery (popliteal artery)
• V: vein (popliteal vein)
• N: nerve (tibial nerve)
• B: biceps femoris (superior lateral border). The lateral and medial heads of gastrocnemius form the inferior border.^[9]

Cranial nerves

There are many mnemonics for the names of the cranial nerves, e.g.

• "OOOTTAFAGVSH" is "OLd OPen OCeans TROuble TRIbesmen ABout Fish VEnom Giving VArious ACute/SPlitting Headaches" (a mnemonic that gives enough letters to distinguish between nerves that start with the same letter), or "On old Olympus's towering tops, a Finn and German viewed some hops,"^[10] and for the initial letters "OOOTTAFVGVAH" is "Oh, oh, oh, to touch and feel very good velvet ... ah, heaven."^[11] The differences between these depend on "acoustic" versus "vestibulocochlear" and "spinal-accessory" versus "accessory".

• A common example mnemonic for remembering which nerves are motor (M), sensory (S), or both (B), "Some Say Marry Money But My Brother Says Benevolent Bride Matters More". There are a very large number of additional mnemonics.^[12]

• For the five branches of the facial nerve there are: Two Zebras Bit My Cookie or To Zanzibar By MotorCar

Diaphragm apertures: spinal levels

Many mnemonics are used for diaphragm apertures including:

Duodenum: lengths of parts

"Counting 1 to 4 but staggered":^[1]p. 1

• 1st part: 2 inches
• 2nd part: 3 inches
• 3rd part: 4 inches
• 4th part: 1 inch

Endocrine glands

The major glands of the endocrine system, excluding ovaries and testes: "T-A-P." (T2, A3, P4)

• Thymus
• Thyroid
• Anterior pituitary
• Adrenal cortex
• Adrenal medulla
• Posterior pituitary
• Parathyroid gland
• Pancreas
• Pineal^[15]

G.I. tract layers (simplified)

Kidney functions

Lateral geniculate nucleus

A simple mnemonic for remembering this is "See I? I see, I see," with "see" representing the C in "contralateral," and "I" representing the I in "ipsilateral." Another is "Emily and Pete meet eye to eye" as in "M and P meet I to I," or again, Magno and Parvo meet Ipsi to Ipsi.

Another way of remembering this is 2+3=5, which is correct, so ipsilateral side, and 1+4 doesn't equal 6, so contralateral.

Placenta-crossing substances

WANT My Hot Dog^[17]

• Wastes
• Antibodies
• Nutrients
• Teratogens
• Microorganisms
• Hormones, HIV
• Drugs

Retina

A mnemonic to remember the layers of the retina:

Sperm: path through male reproductive system

"My boyfriend's name is STEVE":^[1]

• Seminiferous Tubules
• Epididymis
• Vas deferens
• Ejaculatory duct

Sternal angle

For structures lying at the level of the sternal angle, the following mnemonic can be used:

Spine

• Breakfast at 7:00--- 7 cervical vertebrae
• Lunch at 12:00--- 12 thoracic vertebrae
• Dinner at 5:00--- 5 lumbar vertebrae^[18]

Hand

• Carpal Bones:

Sally Left The Party To Take Cathy Home:
Scaphoid, Lunate, Triquetrum, Pisiforme, Trapezium, Trapezoid, Capitate and Hamate

• Carpal bones:

She Looks Too Pretty Try To Catch Her:
Scaphoid, Lunatum, Triquetrum, Pisiforme, Trapezium, Trapezoid,Capitate, Hamate.

Internal iliac artery: branches

I Like Going Places Using My Very Own Unmanned Vehicle
Posterior division:

• Iliolumbar artery
• Lateral sacral artery
• Superior gluteal artery

Anterior division:

• Inferior gluteal artery
• Internal pudendal artery
• Umbilical artery
• Middle rectal artery
• Superior and inferior vesical artery
• Obturator artery
• Uterine artery (female)
• Vaginal artery (female)

Coronal section of brain (structures)

"In Extremis, Cannibals Eat People's Globus Pallidi Instead Of Their Hearts":

From insula to midline:

• ‘’’I’’’nsula
• ’’’E’’’xtream capsule
• Claus’’’t’’’rum
• ’’’External ’’’c’’’apsule
• ’’’P’’’utaman
• Globus pallid ‘’’u’’’s
• Intern’’’a’’’l capsule
• Thalam’’’u’’’s
• Hypo ‘’’t’’’halamus

Anterior Pituitary Hormones

bone projections

Girls In Leadership - Greater tubercle Intertubercular groove Lesser tubercle Humerus tubercles

References

Connective Tissue and Fascicles

Every -Endomysium Person- Perimysium Eats- Epimysium Food - Fascia

Rotator cuff Muscles

Sit- Supraspinatus In - Infraspinatus The - Teres minor Seat - Subscapularis muscle

Vomer

Very bad Odor makes my eyes run

Vertebral Column

7 cervical( breakfast) 12 thoracic (lunch) 5 lumbar (dinner)

Ulna

Understand Listen Name A bone

Holes and Depressions in Bones Family Feuds are No Fun Foramen Fissure Notch Fossa

Flexor muscles of the forearm

3 Bs bend the elbow: (in order of location)

 Biceps brachii 
 Brachialis
 Bachioradialis

12 Cranial Nerves

Old Ollie Oson Teaches Teenagers About Fashion Very Gladly Very Adequately Hilarious Olfactory Optic Oculomotor Trochlear Trigeminal Abducens Facial Vestibulocochlear Glossopharyngeal Vagus Accessory Hypoclossal

Only Our Old Trusty Vodka And Friends Validate Great Victories, So Harmonious.

Functions of cranial nerves mnemonic: Some Say Marry Money, But My Buddy Says Brilliant Brains Make Money

One Orange Orangutan Tries To Avoid Fragile Vines & Gracefully Vacates All Hazards

12 Cranial Nerves

Ongoing Optimism Only Teaches True Amazing Fundamentals Varying Globally Versatile And Honesty olfactory optic oculomotor trochlear Trigeminal Abducens Facial Vestibulocochlear Glossopharyngeal Vagus Accessory Hypoglossal

Functions of the Cranial Nerves

Summertime Seems More Majestic Because Multiple Bystanders Sing Brilliant Ballads Making Masterpieces Sensory Sensory Motor Motor Both Motor Both Sensory Both Both Motor Motor

Silly Sally Makes Many Big Muffins But Sally Bakes Big Macarons Moreover

Some Sundays Make Me Bored, My Brother Stays Busy Building Miniature Models

Some Say Moms Make Boys Magnificent Because She Babies Boys Much More

Only One Ounce To Take Another Farmer’s Very Great Vest And Hat

Sometimes She May Muster Big Motors Because She Believes Both Men Matter

Some Say Marry Money But My Brother Says Big Brains Matter More

12 Cranial Nerves

Only Old Otters Take Time And Find Very Good Values At Hand

• O-Olfactory
• O-Optic
• O-Oculomotor
• T-Trochlear
• T-Trigeminal
• A-Abducens
• F-Facial
• V-Vestibulocochlear
• G-Glossopharyngeal
• V-Vagus
• A-Accessory
• H-Hypoglossal

Cranial Nerves (12)

OOOh the 2 Traceys Are From Virgina Good cause Virginans Are Hilarious

On, On, On, They Traveled And Found Voldemort Guarding Very Ancient Horcruxes

Oh, Oh, Oh, To Touch A Fit Virgin Girl's Vagina (And Hymen)

• I Olfactory nerve
• II Optic nerve
• III Oculomotor nerve
• IV Trochlear nerve
• V Trigeminal nerve
• VI Abducens nerve
• VII Facial nerve
• VIII Vestibulochlear nerve
• IX Glossopharyngeal nerve
• X Vagus nerve
• XI Accessory (spinal) nerve
• XII Hypoglossal nerve