Video: How to learn anatomy with coloring books

If you think about it, Anatomy class is a lot like preschool - just with less snacks and time at the playground. It's all about learning the fundamentals and exploring the familiar with hands-on activities. Conversations about skin, eyeballs, and different kinds of poop are perfectly normal as are laughing at funny-sounding words such as olecranon and ligamentum. And just like in preschool, one of the best ways to learn is through coloring. Yup, you heard that right - coloring books.

Anatomy coloring books aren't just for kids. They're fantastic tools for anyone studying the human body. They make complex concepts more approachable, turning intricate details into manageable, memorable pieces. Our goal is to check out three of the best anatomy coloring books available today and see which one might be right for you. And if you stick around until the end, I'll share with you how to get a free anatomy coloring book PDF. It's perfect for boosting your studies or indulging the inner preschooler inside of you. Coloring within the lines is optional.

The first thing you'll notice as you look through any of these coloring books is that they're much more than just coloring books. This is why I've been recommending my students to get one of these to help supplement their studies for years now. We'll go through each of these coloring books and discover what makes them unique. But the cool thing about all three of these coloring books is that they're a hybrid between a textbook and a coloring book, helping you not only identify structures but also understand them.

A big reason why coloring is so helpful for learning human biology is because it helps improve your memory of both the location and function of the structures by building strong visual relationships. But how do you use them? I know that sounds like a silly question because, I mean, come on, they're coloring books, so coloring is bound to be heavily involved. But if your goal is to get the most out of these books, there are a few things you want to keep in mind as you're busting out the crayons and coloring pencils.

First, take a moment to familiarize yourself with the book's layout and features. Most anatomy coloring books are organized by body systems, making it easy to focus on one area at a time. Pay attention to any color-key systems which will help you identify and understand the various structures.

Before you start coloring, take some time to read the accompanying text. This will give you a solid foundation of knowledge about the anatomy and physiology of the structures you'll be coloring. Don't worry if it seems like a lot of information at first; the act of coloring will help reinforce your learning.

As you color, try to visualize the structures in action. Imagine how muscles contract, how blood flows through vessels, or how nerves transmit signals. This will help you develop a deeper understanding of how the body functions as a whole. Use a variety of colors to make the structure stand out and create visual associations. This will make it easier to recall the information later on.

Don't be afraid to get creative with your color choices. This is your learning experience. Take advantage of any additional resources provided in the book such as quizzes, tables, or review questions. These tools will help you test your knowledge and identify areas where you may need to spend more time studying.

And finally, don't forget to make the book your own. Use blank pages to create study notes, draw additional diagrams, or quiz yourself on the material. The more you engage with the content, the better you'll retain the information. Remember, the key to success with any anatomy coloring book is to take your time, enjoy the process, and actively engage with the material.

Let's now dive into each coloring book and see which one might be right for you.

First up we have one of the most popular anatomy coloring books of all time and it's not difficult to see why that's the case. It also has an incredible name. This is the Anatomy Coloring Book. It's organized based on the anatomical systems of the body, making it super easy to navigate and find what you're looking for. It contains a whopping 162 two-page spreads, each one featuring detailed illustrations and color-key systems that link anatomical terminology with the visuals. It has two appendices, a glossary, an index, and even some blank pages for you to scribble to your heart's desire.

One of the coolest things about this book is that you can choose your preferred format so whether you're a fan of traditional paperbacks like I am or if you prefer the convenience of e-books or the lay flat ease of spiral-bound versions, the Anatomy Coloring Book has you covered, although the paperback version is going to be the cheapest at around $18 on Amazon at the time of recording and then the e-book is around $95 and the spiral-bound version is around $45.

This book has been revised numerous times since the original publication date with the latest fourth edition boasting even more informative text descriptions and enlarged artwork for an enhanced visual experience. It's no wonder that this is the one most of my students choose to buy.

Next up we have the Physiology Coloring Book and this comes from the same illustrators as the Anatomy Coloring Book, and if you're taking both anatomy and physiology at the same time, this is an absolute must-have. It's packed with 320 pages of informative two-page spreads, each one focusing on individual topics to give you a comprehensive yet easy to understand physiology learning experience. The illustrations in this book are seriously topnotch and the complementary text descriptions are like having a built-in study buddy.

Just like the Anatomy Coloring Book, there's an index in the back to help you easily navigate the book by terminology as well as some blank pages for you to use however you see fit. The paperback version is around $25 on Amazon while the spiral-bound version is around $34.

And last but certainly not least, we have Netter's Anatomy Coloring Book. Now, no list on the best anatomy coloring books could possibly be complete without mentioning this gem from the same publishers as Netter Atlas of Human Anatomy and Netter's Anatomy flashcards.

The illustrations in this book are absolutely stunning and they're based on those from the original Netter Atlas. You'll be coloring in everything from nerve courses and bifurcations to muscle origins and insertions from multiple views and dissection layers. Each section also includes quizzes, tables, and review questions to help you master even the most challenging structures. It only comes with a paperback option but an enhanced digital version does come included with the purchase. You can grab it on Amazon for around $23.

When you compare these anatomy coloring books with more robust actual anatomy atlases, for instance, they're going to be a whole lot cheaper but they still come at a price and for your average college student spending any amount of money can seem like an expensive choice and that's why we're providing you with our sample Anatomy Coloring Book completely free of charge.

All you need to do is click the link in the description below and you'll find six labeled illustrations on some of the most essential yet trickiest structures to learn - the brain, outer ear into auditory tube, eyeball, heart, skeleton, and the human skull.

Coloring books are a fantastic tool that I find plenty of students don't give enough credit to. But still, if you're looking for a more engaging and interactive anatomy learning tool, Kenhub might be the perfect solution for you. With videos comprehensively covering over 600 topics in less than 30 minutes each, six types of spaced repetition-inspired quizzes including identification practice, clinical question banks and personalization options, a huge library of easy-to-read articles, and a complete HD color atlas, it's your one-stop shop for all things anatomy learning.

If you haven't already, be sure to subscribe and give this video a like. Believe it or not, small things like that actually can make a big difference in the all-powerful YouTube algorithm, helping this video get in front of more people and helping them figure out which anatomy coloring book is right for them. Also be sure to leave a comment below, letting us know which anatomy coloring book is your favorite and why.

Thanks for watching everybody, and have fun coloring.