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What's the difference in anatomy and physiology? Which is more important to take for med school?

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Jemima A.’s Answer

Answering the first question.. The difference in anatomy and physiology is that while anatomy deals the structure of the body, physiology deals with how these structure functions... With this, it is clear that both courses are vital to offer at the medical school... To effectively understand anatomy, you should know the physiology and vise...
In conclusion, no one is more important but both are foundationally vital to excell in the medical school
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Hilary’s Answer

Anatomy is more about the structure of the body (e.g. knowing names of muscles, where they attach to bones, what action does each muscle do, etc.). Physiology is more about HOW the body works (e.g. cellular function, how does a kidney filter blood, how does the heart pump, etc). They are both extremely important and often are taught together. I don't know that you'd want to go to med school without taking both of these courses in college. Everything will be covered again in medical school, but it's taught a lot faster, so it's helpful to have some basic background knowledge.
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Yasemin’s Answer

Hi Jeff! The previous explanations are great for the difference between both courses; adding to them, I would recommend to take them before medical school. Usually a course in Anatomy and Physiology are listed together in college, I remember there being Anatomy and Physiology I and II offered at my university. I didn't take the class during college but I do think that in being prepared for medical school, it is an important class as well as the MCAT exam; I prepared for Anatomy and Physiology for the exam through Khan academy however. They offer very helpful videos that go over important organ systems and their functions like the heart, lungs and kidneys to name a few. I also used my good friend's A&P book to compare, so if you do get a textbook for the class and it is yours to keep I would hang onto when studying for the exam as well! If you can take the classes I would; classes like A&P, genetics, cell and molecular for example, are recommended for medical school in addition to the required prerequisites!

I hope this helps!
Best of luck!
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Riley’s Answer

If you are premed, you will definitely be required by your school to take both of these classes. In order to have a complete understanding of the human body and how it functions, it is essential to understand both topics. The physiology content will focus on the functions and processes that your body completes, where anatomy will focus on the location of all the structures inside the body.

For example, in an anatomy class you might focus on studying the 4 chambers of the heart and memorizing where veins and arteries are, but in physiology you will understand where the movement of the blood flow is going as it moves through each chamber.
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Blake’s Answer

Hey Jeff,

You will have to take both to get into medical school. A good example to use would be the heart. Anatomy would be a description of the physical make up of the heart (i.e. tissues, cells, etc.). Physiology would be how the heart actually pumps blood, or works.

Thanks,
Blake
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Rahul’s Answer

Understanding both is essential to the practice of medicine. You should prefer to stay away from a thought process that requires you to choose between two subjects. Learning cannot happen in an environment where a subject is forced upon you.
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