8 of the Best Anatomy and Physiology Flashcards

My first week of classes in anatomy and physiology was like learning a new language. The information flies at you quickly, so you need to start memorizing the terms as soon as possible.

Additionally, anatomy and physiology flashcards are excellent for medical students, nursing students, veterinary students, DVM/Ph.D. students, or anyone wanting to get into a science-based field. 

More importantly, anatomical flashcards will help you keep up with the material when your not in the lab.

The Best Anatomy and Physiology Flash Cards

Anatomy and physiology is a challenging subject to study. Keep in mind that you will need to spend a lot of time in the lab to get an “A.” Prepare to gorge on the information. By the same token flashcards can help you refresh your memory. Prepare to eat, drink, and sleep the info that you learn in class.

Best Overall Anatomy Flashcards

#1

Netters Anatomy Flashcards

Hands down, my favorite book and flashcard set for learning anatomy and physiology is by Netters. Frank Netter was an artist, MD, and surgeon who graduated from New York University Medical School. Perhaps some of you can relate: Netter was a natural-born artist whose parents wanted him to go to med school. 

Whether you are trying to figure out if a vet can become a human doctor, these flashcards will help you succeed as an MD or a DVM.

These Netter’s cards will be a joy to study with.

Throughout medical school, Frank Netter worked on his art. After Netter graduated from medical school, he worked as a successful freelance artist to supplement his income. 

In addition, many Ph.D. pharmaceutical companies hired him to help with advertising. Since this was during the great depression and a doctor did not make much money, Netter soon focused on freelance medical-themed artwork. 

Let Netter’s human anatomy flashcards help you get an A in the class!

Manufacturers Specs

• 250 + anatomy and physiology flashcards
• Labels and text are on the back of each best anatomy and physiology flashcard.
• Each flashcard featuring muscle will have the nerve supply on the back.

What We Like

• Netter’s cards have excellent drawings, an authentic piece of artwork.
• It comes with a digital copy; you can efficiently study anatomy and physiology from the convenience of your phone.
• Each card has a hole in the corner, so you can take what you need to study on the go.

What We Don’t Like

• The cards are not organized by body system; instead, they are organized by body region.
• They do not go deep into each topic. 
• Furthermore some crucial structures are left out.

Best Human Anatomy Flashcards

#2 Rohen’s Photographic Real Life Anatomical Flash Cards

Rohen’s anatomical book was my bible in chiropractic school. I do not remember if they had anatomical flashcards then, but if they had, you better believe I would have bought them.

Since their anatomy book uses actual photographs of meticulously dissected humans, it is more accurate than many of the other anatomical flashcards that are drawings. The anatomy flashcards are not a replacement for the actual book, but they offer an excellent tool for quick studying and reviewing. 

Any medical student will vouch that Rohen’s book is a must-have, and purchasing the flashcards to go along with it. In general, these anatomical flashcards will complement your study time. As a result, they are high up on our list for the best anatomy flashcards.

Manufacturers Specs

• 220 Flashcards
• Hole punch corners with a key ring

What We Like

• These virtual life anatomy flashcards have more detail than the flashcards that are drawings.
• The photographic anatomy images come on stiff thick paper.
• Multiple choice questions are on the back of each card. 
• The dissections shown on each card are very detailed.

What We Don’t Like

•  The cards that are from radiographic images are missing an orientation axis. So it is hard to tell what is going on.
• The cards are not organized by each body system. Instead, they are arranged by body location. For all anatomy and physiology classes, you study the body through its systems, not by areas.
• The box they come in is flimsy.
• The holes for the keyring are too close to the edges and will rip easily.

Best Anatomy Flash Cards for Med Students

#3 Gray’s Anatomy for Students Flash Cards

An anatomy book such as Gray’s is an essential for any college student. There is so much detail in it that you can use it to study in conjunction with your class notes. These are some of the best anatomy flashcards because they allow you to review the material fast and effectively.

These too are organized by body region instead of system, just like many of the other anatomy and physiology flashcards. It is not clear why most anatomy flashcards are organized this way, but they are. However, this does not make the cards bad. It is just something to consider.

Manufacturers Specs

• 400+ Flashcards
• Hole punch corners with a key ring

What We Like

• The explanations, and  “In the Clinic” discussions on the back of each card are great for reviewing and solidifying the topics.
• Excellent for reviewing anatomy terms before a big exam.
• The images are taken straight from the Grays Anatomy book.

What We Don’t Like

• Rather than being organized by body system, they are grouped by region.
• The cards don’t have the insertions/innervations for each muscle.
• Unfortunately the images are very small.

A Great Anatomy Flashcard Set

#4 Kaplan Anatomy Flashcards

The best anatomy flashcards will include all pertinent structures and be relevant for college-level anatomy classes. Keeping this in mind, the Kaplan anatomy flashcards check all of those boxes.

Kaplan is a famous brand for study guides, so it makes sense that they decided to get into the anatomy flashcard game. 

The illustrator Stephanie McCann, MA, is a scientific illustrator with 30 years of experience. She received her M.A. in Medical and Biological Illustration from The Johns Hopkins University. Afterward, she went on to teach biological illustration at a university in California.

The author Joanne Tillotson, PhD teaches biology at a SUNY school (State University of New York). Furthermore, Doctor Tillotson won an award for creating innovative ways to use technology in the biology lab.

Manufacturers Specs

• 300 cards
• Anatomical descriptions on the back of each card

What We Like

• They are laminated on heavy card stock.
• Organized by the anatomical system instead of the region.
• It has a hole punch and key ring to carry a select few without lugging the entire box.

What We Don’t Like

• Some words might be cut off due to the printing being askew.
• The anatomy flashcards do not include the attachment sites for tendons and ligaments.

Med School Flashcards

#5 Moore’s Clinical Anatomy Flash Cards

Great for med students, pre-med students, pre-veterinary students, nursing students, chiropractic students, dental students, and more. If you are already using Moore’s atlas, then this might be an excellent complement to review/memorize some structures while on the go.

Succeeding in anatomy is all about memorizing and then understanding how things are related. Certainly, if you ace these two things, you should have no problem getting an A in anatomy and physiology.

The cards do not go into the body’s physiology, but they do an excellent job of getting you familiar with all of the terms you will need to memorize.

Manufacturers Specs

• 708 cards
• Metal Keyring

What We Like

• Each card has a description box that highlights essential information on the back. 
• They are color-coded by regions of the body.

What We Don’t Like

• They are not laminated, so they get damaged easily.
• The box they come in is too small.

The Best Physiology Flashcards

#6 Netter’s Physiology Flashcards

Just like Netter’s anatomical flashcards, these are also a work of art. For this reason, you will enjoy learning the material from cards that are well done. 

For one thing, the topic of physiology can sometimes be challenging to understand. Notably, one of the most effective ways to master the material is reading, listening, writing, and attending office hours. Furthermore combining all of these strategies will help you succeed in the class.

Chiefly these physiology cards are college-level material, and are best for medical students, pre-veterinary students, or biology majors. In particular, they will work for any science major where you have to take physiology as a prerequisite. 

Learning is all about laying information, so the more ways you have to access it, the better. In general physiology, flashcards are an excellent supplement to any textbook on physiology and will provide you with more layers of information.

Any Netters cards will not disappoint you.

Manufacturers Specs

• 200 cards

What We Like

• Each card has a ton of information that will go along with any physiology textbook.

• The anatomy and physiology flashcards are great for reviewing key terms quickly.

• Each physiology flashcard has beautiful images.

What We Don’t Like

• Keep in mind that they are thin and will get damaged easily.
• The physiology is packed onto a small card, so they might be hard to read for some people.

Best Veterinary Anatomy Flashcards

#7 Saunders Veterinary Anatomy Flash Cards

The primary way I studied gross anatomy in veterinary school was to test myself in the lab, with a study group,  during the evenings and weekends. Dare I say it? Yes, I spent all of my free time in the anatomy lab! The result? An “A” in veterinary anatomy and physiology.

Then when I wasn’t in the lab and had small breaks between classes, I would memorize the terminology through flashcards. Namely, veterinary anatomy flashcards helped push my studying to the next level.

If you plan on going into veterinary radiology you will need to have a solid understanding of anatomy down, before your residency.

Manufacturers Specs

• 461 veterinary anatomy flashcards
• Full-color cards
• Organized by region instead of the body system

What We Like

• They are at a great price point.
• These veterinary anatomy flashcards can be given as a gift to a young budding veterinarian.
• Markedly the flashcards cover reptile anatomy.
• For one thing they include small pocket pet anatomy.
• Each Saunders veterinary anatomy flashcard comes with a section number. This enables you to place the card back where it belongs easily.

What We Don’t Like

• Although it does contain cards on the feline, a veterinary student that wants to work primarily with cats will be unhappy.

Best Anatomy and Physiology Flashcards

#8 Anatomy and Physiology Flashcards

Since most cards focus on anatomy and only lightly touch on physiology, these are an excellent addition to your study tool kit. Keep in mind that the cards only lightly touch on the physiology aspect of the course. This makes sense since there wouldn’t be enough room on a card to explain various systems’ physiology fully. 

In general studying anatomy and physiology takes a lot of time, patience, and effort. It’s all about spending time outside of class, in the lab, and testing yourself with your classmates. During my years taking gross anatomy in chiropractic school and then later on the same course in veterinary school, I got an A in both classes by spending time in the lab. 

Whenever you are not in the lab, you can focus each day on memorizing terminology with flashcards. The anatomy and physiology flashcards help solidify the topics you learn in lectures and labs while at home. The great thing about them is that you can easily take a stack out on public transit and quickly memorize a few more terms. 

Remember that these flashcards are basic. To clarify they will not provide all of the information you need to get an A in the class. Instead, they are meant to complement the textbook and lab time, so you can memorize more terms when out and about.

Manufacturers Specs

• 335 anatomy and physiology flashcards
• Color-coded to flip through quickly
• Heavy card stock

What We Like

• Great for a basic anatomy and physiology class. 
• Specifically they are separated by body systems (The Skeletal System, lymphatic system, urinary system, etc.)
• The anatomy and physiology flashcards will help you refresh and prep for the  NCLEX exam.
• Each body system is color-coded so you can quickly put them back where they belong.
• These cards are great to brush up on anatomy and physiology before going to medical school.

What We Don’t Like

• They do not come with a punch hole and ring.
• Its important to realize that they are missing a lot of essential labels and structures.
• Not for more advanced anatomy and physiology students.
• Some of the cards have mislabeled features.
• They lack information like muscle origin and insertion.

Anatomical Flashcard FAQs

Anatomy and Physiology Prerequisites

The majority of US college anatomy and physiology classes will require you first to take

• Biology 101 and 102
• College-level math class, like calculus (physiology involves learning equations)
• College-level English class
• If you take cell biology, microbiology, or chemistry class beforehand, the concepts might also help you succeed in your anatomy and physiology class.

3 Reasons Why You Need Anatomy and Physiology Flashcards

• Anatomy and physiology cards are small enough so that you can take a handful of cards each day to your workplace. On your break, you will have the opportunity to review a few key topics.

• Learning the material in many ways will help you succeed since there is so much material to memorize.

• Offer a quick way to review and quiz yourself without taking out the book. Chiefly if you are looking for ways to raise your GPA, these can help.

The Different Types of Anatomy and Physiology Flashcards

• Real Life Anatomical flashcards. These are photographs of actual dissections that have labels to help you identify structures.

• Drawings of body systems, body cavities, and more represent the second category of anatomy and physiology flashcards.

• Flashcards for anatomy. Due to physiology’s best transmission through reading and lectures, most cards focus on anatomy and its functions.

• Often the flashcards for anatomy and physiology will offer small tidbits of pertinent physiology to go along with each drawing. 

• Physiology flashcards are harder to find. The amount of information required to explain some topic in physiology entirely is just not possible to condense onto a flashcard. Therefore, these are best when you use them as a supplemental study tool but not your primary method of studying.

5 Things To Look For In A Good Anatomy and Physiology Flashcards

• Do they have thick or thin card stock? The best anatomy flashcard will be printed on a thick card, so they last longer.

• A  laminated flashcard will also last longer. You will probably carry these cards around in small sections so that you will benefit from a laminated flashcard.

• Artwork. Do you want a card with awe-inspiring artwork like the Netters? 

• Do you want the origins and insertions of each muscle on the back of the card?

• How much physiology and explanation do you want on each card? In particular there are simple anatomical flashcards that just focus on the labels. On the other hand, there are more in-depth cards that highlight some physiological aspects.