Anatomy preparation for exams like the USMLE Step 1, NBME CBSE, COMLEX, or medical school coursework can feel overwhelming there’s just so much to memorize. That’s why we collected +100 mnemonics for you! Mnemonics are powerful memory tools that help you quickly recall complex information through simple, catchy phrases.

In this post, we've gathered the most effective and exam-relevant mnemonics across every major system, from head and neck to the lower limbs. Whether you're reviewing for a big test or just want to solidify your anatomical knowledge, these carefully selected mnemonics will save you time, boost your recall, and make studying more efficient and fun.

Let's dive into Part I of this essential collection!

+100 High-Yield Anatomy Mnemonics You Should Memorize

Head & Neck

1. Cranial Nerves (Sensory, Motor, Both)
   Mnemonic: Some Say Marry Money But My Brother Says Big Brains Matter More
   (S = Sensory, M = Motor, B = Both)

2. Branches of Facial Nerve (To Zanzibar By Motor Car)
   Mnemonic: Temporal, Zygomatic, Buccal, Mandibular, Cervical
   (Motor branches to facial muscles.)

3. Bones of the Orbit (Some Zany People Make Love Every Friday)
   Mnemonic: Sphenoid, Zygomatic, Palatine, Maxilla, Lacrimal, Ethmoid, Frontal
   (Form the walls of the eye orbit.)

4. Foramina Contents (Standing Room Only)
   Mnemonic:

   • Superior orbital fissure: CN III, IV, V1, VI

   • Foramen Rotundum: V2

   • Foramen Ovale: V3

5. Muscles of Mastication (M’s Munch)
   Mnemonic: Masseter, Medial pterygoid, Temporalis (close jaw)
   Lateral pterygoid (opens jaw: Lateral Lowers).

6. Branches of External Carotid Artery (Some Anatomists Like Freaking Out Poor Medical Students)
   Mnemonic: Superior thyroid, Ascending pharyngeal, Lingual, Facial, Occipital, Posterior auricular, Maxillary, Superficial temporal

7. Layers of Scalp (SCALP)
   Mnemonic: Skin, Connective tissue, Aponeurosis, Loose areolar tissue, Pericranium

8. Facial Development Arches (First and Second Arches)
   Mnemonic:

   • 1st Arch: Mastication muscles, Malleus, Mandible

   • 2nd Arch: Smiling muscles, Stapes, Styloid

9. Cranial Nerves Passing Jugular Foramen (9-10-11)
   Mnemonic: CN IX, X, XI pass through Jugular Foramen.

10. Eye Muscles and Nerve Innervation (SO4, LR6, AO3)
    Mnemonic:

• Superior Oblique — CN IV

• Lateral Rectus — CN VI

• All Others — CN III

Thorax

11. Heart Auscultation Areas (All Physicians Take Money)
    Mnemonic: Aortic, Pulmonic, Tricuspid, Mitral

12. Branches of Aortic Arch (ABC’S)
    Mnemonic: Aortic arch → Brachiocephalic trunk, left Common carotid, left Subclavian

13. Posterior Mediastinum Structures (DATES)
    Mnemonic: Descending aorta, Azygos vein, Thoracic duct, Esophagus, Sympathetic chain

14. Coronary Artery Branches (RCA/LCA branches)
    Mnemonic:

• RCA: Right Marginal, Posterior Descending

• LCA: Anterior Descending, Circumflex (LAD — Left Anterior Descending)

15. Heart Valves Order (Try Pulling My Aorta)
    Mnemonic: Tricuspid → Pulmonary → Mitral → Aortic

Respiratory

16. Right Lung Lobes (3 R’s)
    Mnemonic: Right lung has 3 lobes, 2 fissures (Horizontal + Oblique)

17. Structures Passing Diaphragm (I 8 10 Eggs At 12)
    Mnemonic:

• IVC at T8

• Esophagus at T10

• Aorta at T12

18. Lung Hilum Arrangement (RALS)
    Mnemonic: Right — Artery Anterior, Left — Artery Superior

19. Accessory Respiratory Muscles (SPIES)
    Mnemonic: Scalenes, Pectoralis minor, Intercostals, Erector spinae, Sternocleidomastoid

Abdomen

20. Retroperitoneal Structures (SAD PUCKER)
    Mnemonic: Suprarenal glands, Aorta/IVC, Duodenum (2nd-4th), Pancreas (except tail), Ureters, Colon (ascending, descending), Kidneys, Esophagus, Rectum

21. Branches of Celiac Trunk (Left Hand Side)
    Mnemonic: Left gastric, Hepatic (common), Splenic

22. Layers of Abdominal Wall (Some Cunning Interns Eat Every Apple)
    Mnemonic: Skin, Camper’s fascia, Internal oblique, External oblique, External fascia, Aponeurosis

23. Portal Triad (DVC)
    Mnemonic: Duct (bile), Vein (portal), proper hepatic Artery

24. Hernia Sites (MDs Don't Lie)
    Mnemonic:

• Medial to Inferior epigastric: Direct

• Lateral to Inferior epigastric: Indirect

25. Liver Lobes (Caudate is superior, Quadrate is anterior)
    Mnemonic: "CQ" Alphabetical — Caudate above Quadrate

Pelvis & Perineum

26. Pelvic Floor Muscles (PLS)
    Mnemonic: Pubococcygeus, Levator ani, Sphincter urethrae

27. Branches of Internal Iliac Artery (I Love Going Places In My Very Own Underwear)
    Mnemonic:

• Iliolumbar, Lateral sacral, Gluteal (superior), Pudendal (internal), Inferior gluteal, Middle rectal, Vaginal, Obturator, Umbilical arteries

28. Male Urethra Segments (PMS)
    Mnemonic: Prostatic, Membranous, Spongy (penile)

29. Erectile Tissues (2 + 1 Rule)
    Mnemonic:

• 2 Corpora Cavernosa, 1 Corpus Spongiosum

30. Perineum Triangle (Urogenital & Anal)
    Mnemonic: "USA" — Urogenital Superficial → Anal deep

Upper Limb

31. Bones of the Carpal Tunnel (Some Lovers Try Positions That They Can't Handle)
    Mnemonic:

• Scaphoid, Lunate, Triquetrum, Pisiform, Trapezium, Trapezoid, Capitate, Hamate

32. Brachial Plexus Order (Randy Travis Drinks Cold Beer)
    Mnemonic: Roots, Trunks, Divisions, Cords, Branches

33. Branches of Brachial Plexus (MARMU)
    Mnemonic: Musculocutaneous, Axillary, Radial, Median, Ulnar

34. Hand Innervation (Median = LOAF muscles)
    Mnemonic: Lumbricals (1-2), Opponens pollicis, Abductor pollicis brevis, Flexor pollicis brevis

35. Cubital Fossa Contents (TAN)
    Mnemonic: Tendon (biceps), Artery (brachial), Nerve (median)

36. Rotator Cuff Muscles (SITS)
    Mnemonic: Supraspinatus, Infraspinatus, Teres minor, Subscapularis

37. Thumb Movements (FAPE)
    Mnemonic: Flexion, Abduction, Pronation (opposition), Extension

38. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (Median nerve -LOAF)
    Mnemonic: Lumbricals, Opponens, Abductor, Flexor

Lower Limb

39. Hip Adductors (All Boys Like Grapes)
    Mnemonic: Adductor brevis, longus, magnus, Gracilis

40. Gluteal Muscles and Nerve Supply (Super Super Small)
    Mnemonic:

• Superior gluteal nerve: Gluteus medius, minimus, Tensor fascia lata

• Inferior gluteal nerve: Gluteus maximus

41. Posterior Leg Muscles (Tom, Dick, and Harry)
    Mnemonic:

• Tibialis posterior, Flexor Digitorum longus, Flexor Hallucis longus (behind medial malleolus)

42. Tarsal Bones (Tiger Cubs Need MILC)
    Mnemonic: Talus, Calcaneus, Navicular, Medial, Intermediate, Lateral cuneiforms, Cuboid

43. Foot Arches (MIL)
    Mnemonic: Medial longitudinal, Intermediate longitudinal, Lateral longitudinal

44. Knee Bursae (PPSS)
    Mnemonic: Prepatellar, Pes anserinus, Suprapatellar, Semimembranosus

Spine

45. Spinal Ligaments (SALP)
    Mnemonic: Supraspinous, Anterior longitudinal, Ligamentum flavum, Posterior longitudinal

46. Vertebral Levels (I 8 10 Eggs At 12)
    (Repeats: Diaphragmatic Openings)

47. Brachial Plexus Roots (C5-T1)
    Mnemonic: C5-T1 --> Randy Travis Drinks Cold Beer

48. Lumbar Plexus Branches (I I Get Laid On Fridays)
    Mnemonic: Iliohypogastric, Ilioinguinal, Genitofemoral, Lateral femoral cutaneous, Obturator, Femoral

Vessels & Lymph

49. Axillary Artery Parts (Sixties Teens Love Sex And Pot)
    Mnemonic:

• Superior thoracic, Thoracoacromial, Lateral thoracic, Subscapular, Anterior circumflex, Posterior circumflex

50. Deep Veins of the Lower Limb (Females Prefer Great Men)
    Mnemonic: Femoral → Popliteal → Great saphenous → Muscular