How understandable is Gray’s Anatomy for someone considering a career in medicine?

s0craticx14xx: How understandable is Gray’s Anatomy for someone considering a career in medicine?
1. Both of my parents have backgrounds in medicine.

2. My dad is chronically ill, so I am exposed to college-level medical terminology constantly… and I understand it.

3. In the biology courses I have taken, I have aced them without too much difficulty.

4. I have an IQ somewhere between 135 and 140,

I hear Gray’s Anatomy is a very difficult book to read, but, under these conditions, would I be able to understand the majority of Gray’s Anatomy? Thanks in advance for your help!

Answers and Views:

Answer by robbiew
Theres only one way to find out

Answer by Pangolin
The copy I have is an old version, and I don’t know how much they’ve updated it, but the names of some things have changed. They are getting away from eponymous designations, so some of the terms may not be up to date.

I found Gray’s difficult – not particularly user friendly. There are easier to understand (and more interesting) anatomy books available. Find a good anatomy atlas that shows photos of dissected bodies.

Just my $ 0.02

Answer by grimmyTea
Why don’t you try reading it and judge for yourself? I don’t know if it is exactly the same as the print version, but there is an online version that is available to the public at:

https://www.bartleby.com/107/

It’s not hard to read (I would rate it as college level) and is probably a decent way to learn anatomy for the first time.

For most of us who have already learned a thing or two about anatomy, atlases are most useful as references. In this regard, I would have to echo Pangolin’s sentiment that Gray’s is extremely hard to use. For this purpose, Netter’s or Clemente’s are far better.

Answer by greydoc6
Gray’s discusses anatomy by systems. By that is meant there is a chapter on the skeletal system, the muscular system, the nervous system, and so on. You might be more comfortable with an anatomy test that is organized by regions such as head and neck, upper extremity, lower extremity, etc.

Answer by Gata de Barrio
Grey’s Anatomy isn’t one of my favorite anatomy books. Mind you, I’ve only tried out the older versions of the book; but it’s a bit of a tedious read.

Rousoviere’s Anatomy is an awesome book in my opinion. I like how the book explains organs and blood vessels and the drawings (while they could be a bit more “colorful”) are very well detailled. I do think the book can get confusing though with some structures of the spinal cord and the pelvis. However, I’d love to buy this book; but I have so many other things I need to buy that it’s something I’ll buy after I graduate.

Netter is a great book; wished I had bought it (I stupidly bought Moore’s anatomy, ugh). Lacks text which hinders you during anatomy courses, but the drawings are indeed gorgeous to slobber at. I’d sure buy this book; especially since at highschool unless you took a course that introduces you to medicine like I did; you have no need to know what is the VII nerve’s anatomic pathway.

Answer by Brrrr
No, Socratic, I don’t recommend it for your stage.

I bought one in undergrad ’cause my MD mentor told me it was the “Bible of Anatomy”.
True, but the Bible ain’t an easy read.

Gray’s is a good text for reference during an anatomy class. Apart from that, it looks nice on your bookshelf.

Buying Gray’s will not help you prepare for medical school in any way.

Just wait for your anatomy class and use whatever atlas and text they require.
Save your Gray’s money to pay off your med school loans.

Answer by Marie
I’m with all the other doctors. I own an older copy, mostly for the historical value and interest of the old drawings. They’re really fascinating.

However, as a study tool, I found it pretty useless. The text is practically unreadable. They do update Gray’s, and I’m sure the modern editions are quite different. Having said that, I second, third and fourth the comment above about Netter’s. Frank Netter was a genius with illustration (and a doctor). What he shows is what is there when you dissect, and there is no question in my mind that it is readable (what text there is; his Clinical Anatomy text is unbelievably useful) and understandable with a minimum of medical knowledge.

One thing about medicine: lots of doctors are smart, but the dirty little secret of med school is that not much that you study is really that complex or difficult to understand. There’s just a helllllllluva lot of it. 😉