Anatomy mnemonic
How to Remember the Brachial Plexus
Roots, Trunks, Divisions, Cords, Branches. Five levels, five terminal branches, and one exam question a year that determines whether you pass upper-limb anatomy.
The brachial plexus is a five-level network — Roots, Trunks, Divisions, Cords, Branches — that carries C5 through T1 out to the arm. Every medical student has to memorize it. Every medical student forgets it. The reason is not the difficulty of the anatomy; it is the sheer number of names at each level and the fact that most textbook diagrams present them all at once, which the brain refuses to encode.
The fix is a mnemonic per level, plus spaced repetition on the connections between levels. This page covers the classic mnemonics, one modern variant, and the flashcard structure that keeps it in memory past the exam.
The five-level mnemonic
'Read Those Damn Cadaver Books' — Roots, Trunks, Divisions, Cords, Branches. That handles the levels themselves. The classic sentence for each level below.
- Roots: C5, C6, C7, C8, T1 — no mnemonic needed, it's the sequence
- Trunks: Superior, Middle, Inferior — 'STop' or 'SMI'
- Divisions: Anterior, Posterior (three of each) — 'PAPA' or just remember 'each trunk splits'
- Cords: Lateral, Posterior, Medial — 'LPM' relative to axillary artery
- Branches (terminal): Musculocutaneous, Axillary, Median, Radial, Ulnar
Terminal branches — the two classic sentences
For the five terminal branches (Musculocutaneous, Axillary, Median, Radial, Ulnar), both sentences work — pick whichever sticks:
- 'My Aunt Mary Raped Uncle' — crude but sticky, high-yield on Reddit
- 'Musicians Always Make Really Ugly' — clean version
- 'MARMU' — bare initialism for anyone who prefers no story
The connections — where students actually fail
The names are only half the exam. The other half is which root feeds which trunk, which cord feeds which branch, and which nerve controls which muscle. That is where a straight mnemonic fails and where flashcards win. Generate a card set: front is a level-and-position ('Middle trunk'), back is what feeds it (C7) and what it becomes (both divisions contribute to lateral and posterior cords). Review daily for two weeks, then weekly for a month.
Frequently asked questions
What's the fastest way to memorize the whole plexus?
Draw it three times from memory. First time you'll fail; use a reference. Second time you'll get the levels but miss connections. Third time it clicks. Then flashcard the connections for retention.
Is the crude 'My Aunt Mary Raped Uncle' mnemonic really the most-used?
It is what most medical students report using because it is unusually sticky. If you prefer a clean version, 'Musicians Always Make Really Ugly [music]' is the common substitute.
What's tested on Step 1?
Step 1 tests brachial plexus lesions: Erb-Duchenne (upper trunk / C5–C6, 'waiter's tip'), Klumpke (lower trunk / C8–T1, claw hand), and specific nerve injuries. Memorize the levels, then link each level to its classic lesion.
Should I memorize collateral branches?
For Step 1 and most anatomy exams — the terminal branches are highest-yield. Long thoracic nerve (winged scapula) and axillary nerve are the two collateral branches worth mnemonic effort.
Do I need to memorize root values for every muscle?
For orthopedics and neurology rotations, yes. For preclinical anatomy exams, focus on the classic ones: biceps (C5–C6), triceps (C7), intrinsic hand muscles (T1).
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