MCAT Mnemonics Practice Dashboard

Oxidation & Reduction

LEO the lion, goes GER
Loss of Electrons ⇒ Oxidation
Gain of Electrons ⇒ Reduction

Types of White Blood Cells 

Never Let Monkeys Eat Bananas (from most abundant to least abundant)

Neutrophils
Lymphocytes
Monocytes
Eosinophils
Basophils

DG° = -nFE°

Nernst Equation:

E = E° - (RT/nF)lnQ

Bonding:

H requires 1 more electron in its outer shell to become stable.
O requires 2.
N requires 3.
C requires 4.

Reduction occurs at the Cathode; Oxidation at the Anode.

Remember that the terms beginning with consonants (R & C) are together, and those beginning with vowels (O & A) are together.

Gibb's Free Energy:

DG = DH - TDS

Henderson-Hasselbalch Equation

or "Hong Kong + American Hospital Association"

pH = pKa + log10(A-/HA)

Quantum Numbers:

n, l, m, s

The following are all state functions:

V for volume
G for Gibb's free energy
P for pressure
H for enthalpy
E for internal energy S for entropy
T for temperature

Cation:

The "t" in cation looks like a plus sign: "ca+ion"

Moles deposited at an electrode = It/nF

DG = DG°+ RTlnQ

Anomeric Carbons

Hydrogen Bonding: Hold the F-O-N
Hydrogen + (bonded to) Fluoride, Oxygen, and Nitrogen = Protic solvent.

Other bonding mnemonics:
 BARF – Break (a bond), Absorb (energy),Release(energy), Form (a bond) 

SNAP - Symmetrical (molecule) Nonpolar Asymmetrical (molecule) Polar

TICS -Transfer Ionic, Covalent Share

Strength of bonds and intermolecular forces from strong to weak:
I Can’t Handle Dirty Vans - (Ionic, Covalent, Hydrogen, Dipole, Van der Waals 

S, P, D, F

Then it follows the alphabet: g, h, i, j, k, etc.

Tera, Giga, Mega, Kilo, Deca - Deci, centi,

milli, micro, nano, pico

Sequence of orbitals

s
p
d
f
g
h
i
k

Periodic table – Periods 1-3 Hydrogen

Helium
Lithium
Beryllium
Boron
Carbon
Nitrogen
Oxygen
Fluorine
Neon
Na (Sodium)
Magnesium
Aluminum
Silicon
Phosphorous
Sulfur
Chlorine
Argon

Periodic table – Period 4

K (Potassium)
Calcium
Scandium
Titanium
Vanadium
Chromium
Manganese
Fe (Iron)
Cobalt
Nickel
Cu (Copper)
Zinc
Gallium
Germanium
Arsenic
Selenium
Bromine
Krypton

Periodic table – Period 5

Rubidium
Strontium
Yttrium
Zirconium
Niobium
Molybdenum
Technetium
Ruthenium
Rhodium
Palladium
Silver (Ag)
Cadmium
Indium
Tin (Sn)
Antimony (Sb)
Tellurium
Iodine
Xenon

Noble gases

Helium
Neon
Argon
Krypton
Xenon
Radon

First transition metals

Scandium
Titanium
Vanadium
Chromium
Manganese
Iron (Fe)
Cobalt
Nickel
Copper (Cu)
Zinc

Second transition metals

Yttrium
Zirconium
Niobium
Molybdenum
Technetium
Ruthenium
Rhodium
Palladium
Silver (Ag)
Cadmium

Third transition metals

Lanthanum
Hafnium
Tantalum
Tungsten (W)
Rhenium
Osmium
Iridium
Platinum
Gold (Au)
Mercury (Hg)

Actinides

Actinium
Thorium
Protactinium
Uranium
Neptunium
Plutonium
Americium
Curium
Berkelium
Californium
Einsteinium
Fermium
Mendelevium
Nobelium
Lawrencium

(electrons) Flow from Anode To CAThode

Lanthanides

Lanthanum
Cerium
Praseodymium
Neodymium
Promethium
Samarium
Europium
Gadolinium
Terbium
Dysprosium
Holmium
Erbium
Thulium
Ytterbium
Lutetium

Alkali metals

Lithium
Sodium (Na)
Potassium (K)
Rubidium
Cesium
Francium

Alkaline earth metals

Beryllium
Magnesium
Calcium
Strontium
Barium
Radium

Chalcogens

Oxygen
Sulfur
Selenium
Tellurium
Polonium
Livermorium

Halogens

Fluorine
Chlorine
Bromine
Iodine
Astatine
Tennessine

Properties of elements according to:
Abundance of elements on the crust of the earth

Oxygen(O) > Silicon(Si) > Aluminum(Al) > Iron(Fe) > Calcium(Ca) > Sodium (Na) > Potassium(K) > Magnesium (Mg)

*The remainder just contributes 1%.

Activity series of metals

Potassium > Sodium > Calcium > Magnesium > Aluminum> (Carbon)* > Zinc > Chromium > Iron> Tin > Lead > (Hydrogen)* > Copper > Mercury > Silver > Gold > Platinum

*Note: Hydrogen and Carbon are non-metals used as a baseline.

Diatomic molecules

Hydrogen
Nitrogen
Oxygen
Fluorine
Chlorine
Bromine
Iodine

Anode has Oxidation Reduction at the Cathode

Prefixes for naming carbon chains

1 Meth
2 Eth
3 Prop
4 But

Aromatic substituent prefixes

Ortho
Meta
Para

Carboxylic acids

Formic
Acetic
Propionic
Butyric
Valeric
Caproic

Bronsted-Lowery Acid donates (Base accepts)

H2, N2, F2, 02, I2, CI2, Br2

Alpha = trans/down

Beta = cis/up

Hormones Produced & Secreted by the Anterior Pituitary
FLAT PEG
Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
Luteinizing Hormone (LH)
Adrenocorticotropin Hormone (ACTH)
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)

Prolactin
Endorphins
Growth Hormone

*Note: FLAT refers to tropic hormones while PEG refers to direct acting hormones.

OR

“FLAT PiG lived in the ANT PIT (anterior pituitary)”
FSH
LH
ACTH
TSH

Prolactin
i
GH

OR

FLAT PEGgy is a Direct woman who lived in the ANT PIT.

PEG = direct hormones; the others all are tropic hormones.

OR

FLAT trop (ical) beach and pegs go directly into a board ( FLAT = tropic hormones)

Oxidation & Reduction

OIL RIG

Oxidation is Loss
Reduction is Gain

**Reducing is reducing the oxidation number, making it more negative

Blotting Techniques

S - Southern blot D - DNA (via DNA probe)
N - Northern blot R - RNA (via DNA probe)
O - omit O - omit
W - Western blot P - protein (via antibody probe)

D - DNA (via DNA probe)

R - RNA (via DNA probe)

O - omit
P - protein (via antibody probe)

Spinal Cord Nerve Origins

Sensory Neurons are afferent & on the dorsal side, while Motor Neurons are efferent & on the ventral side.
SAME DAVE:

Sensory
Afferent
Motor
Efferent

Dorsal
Afferent
Ventral
Efferent

Mesoderm

Things that help us move. Includes, bones, muscles, circulatory system, kidneys (hydrate), gonads

Endoderm

Endernal sounds like “internal”, like “internal organs”. Includes GI tract, respiratory system, accessory organs

Deviations from Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium are caused by:
Maggie Mae Does Not Smoke

Mutations
Migration
Drift (genetic drift)
Non-random mating
Selection

The Cell Cycle

Growth Phase 1
DNA Synthesis
Growth Phase 2
Mitosis
Cytokinesi

Mitosis = PMAT

Prophase
Metaphase
Anaphase
Telophase

PRImary oocyte arrests in PROphase I
And SECondary oocyte arrest in METaphase II
So, PRI PRO SEC MET
think of it like a chant

Chordate Features

CHORey!- Do Not Pinch People
Dorsal, hollow nerve cord
Notochord
Pharyngeal slits
Postanal tail

Stages in Embryonic Development

Must Be Good
Morula
Blastula
Gastrula

OR
Developing Embryos (babies) Must Be Good

Fat-Soluble Vitamins

Vitamins A
D
E
K

Enzymes/Hormones of the Small Intestine

SLAM DECS
Sucrase
Lactase
Aminopeptidase
Maltase
Dipeptidase
Enterokinase
Cholecystokinin (CCK)
Secretin

OR

Garlic Cloves Smell Exquisite
Gastrin
Cholecystokinin (CCK)
Secretin
Enterogastrone (aka gastric inhib peptide)

OR

“i C Damsels in distress” (because their hormones make them poop!).

Cholecystokinin (CCK)

Dipeptidase
Aminopeptidase
Maltase
Sucrase
Enterokinase
Lactase
Secretin

Hormones that Increase Blood Glucose

Somatotropin
Thyroid Hormones (thyroxine and triiodothyronine)
Epinephrine
Norepinephrine
Glucagon
Glucocorticosteroids

Immunoglobulins

IgM
IgA
IgD
IgG
IgE

Kingdoms

Monera
Protista
Fungi
Plants
Animals

Male Reproductive Track

Seminiferous Tubules
Epididymis
Vas Deferens
(Nothing)
Urethra
Penis

Menstrual Cycle

Follicular Phase
Ovulatory Phase
Luteal Phase

Pyrimidines

Cytosine
Uracil and
Thiamine are
PYramidines

Purines

Guanine and
Adenine are
Purines

Relationship Between Purines and Pyrimidines

Adenine bonds to
Thymine;
Cytosine bonds to
Guanine

Proteases in the Duodenum

Enterokinase
Trypsin
Chymotrypsin
Carboxypeptidase
Elastase

Striated Muscle

Z-line
I-band
A-band
H-zone

Morula -> Blastula -> Gastrula -> Neuralation

Gamete → Zygote → Embryo → Fetus

Ectoderm

Things that we might find attractive... or not. Includes skin, eyes, glands (sweat, mammary, etc), nervous system

Salt on the outside of a Bananna

Na is high outside (a cell), K (potassium) is high inside (the cell / bananna)

Beta

Alpha

Delta of

Pancreas release insulin

Glucagon

Somatostatin

CAlcium - Dependent adHERINg of cells

Function of Estrogen / Progesterone in the endometrium

Your body produces Glucagon when your GLUcose levels are Gone

Calcitonin TONEs down CALcium levels (vs. PTH, which raises blood calcium)

Osteoblasts Build Bone (vs. osteoclasts, which do the opposite / clash)

If trp is low, trp repressor gets kicked off (“tripped off”), RNA polymerase then makes more trp

LAC operon isn’t being expressed when LAC is low

Introns are the transcribed part of the nucleotide sequence in an mRNA and bound to carry the non-coding part for the proteins. Exons are the transcribed part of the nucleotide sequence in mRNA that's liable for protein synthesis.

Kingdom

Phylum

Class

Order

Family

Genus

Species

Neutrophils

Lymphocytes

Monocytes

Eosinophils

Basophils

DNA is read 3'-5' left to right like we read.

But is synthesized 5'-3' largest to smallest just how a pyramid is built.

White Blood Cells

(In order of decreasing numbers)

Neutrophils
Lymphocytes
Monocytes
Eosinophils
Basophils

Calcitonin decreases blood Ca2+ levels (PTH is the opposite)

Dyneins go toward the center of the cell (Dine in)

Kinesins go toward the exterior of cell (Carry out)

Non-polar amino acids

Glycine (G)
Alanine (Ala)
Leucine (Leu)
Isoleucine (Ile)
Methionine (Met)
Valine (Val)
Proline (Pro)
Tryptophan (Trp)
Phenylalanine (Phe)

Polar uncharged amino acids

Glutamine (Gln)
Serine (Ser)
Threonine (Thr)
Cysteine (Cys)
Asparagine (Asn)

Electric amino acids

Glutamic acid (Glu, E)
Aspartic acid (Asp, D)
Lysine (Lys, K)
Arginine (Arg, R)
Histidine (His, H)

Positive amino acids

Histidine
Lysine
Arginine

Aromatic amino acids

Tyrosine
Tryptophan
Phenylalanine

Hydrophobic alkyl side chains

Valine
Phenylalanine (the one-letter abbreviation is F, not P)
Alanine
Isoleucine
Leucine

Molecules in the TCA cycle

Citrate
I
Ketoglutarate
Succinyl
Succinate
Fumarate
Malate
Oxaloacetate

 3 NADH, 1 FADH, 3 CO, 1 GTP

Co2, Acid, 2,3-DPG, Exercise, Temp (all shift curve to the right)

Aromatic AAs:
Phenylalanine
Tyrosine
Tryptophan

Start Codon:
A
U
G
(Met)

Vitamins K, E, D, A are all fat soluble

Enzymes in the TCA cycle

Citrate synthase
Cis-aconitase
Isocitrate dehydrogenase
A-α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase Succinyl CoA synthetase
Succinate dehydrogenase
Fumarase
Malate dehydrogenase

TCA cycle products

Net of 3 NADH, 1 GTP, 1 FADH2
GTP produced in between Succinyl-CoA & Succinate
FADH2 produced in between Succinate & Fumarate

Molecules in glycolysis

Glucose
Glucose-6-phosphate
Fructose-6-phosphate
Fructose-1,6-bisphosphate
DHAP
Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate
B-1, 3-bisphosphoglycerate
P-3-phosphoglycerate
P-2-phosphoglycerate, PEP
Pyruvate

Enzymes in irreversible steps

Hexokinase
Glucokinase
PFK-1
Pyruvate
Kinase

Hydrophilic AAs

Glutamate
Aspartate
Glutamine (the one-letter abbreviation is Q, not G)
Asparagine (the one-letter abbreviation is N, not A)
Lysine (abbreviation is K)
Arginine (R)
Histidine

Three stop codons

UAA
UGA
UAG

Southern blot = DNA
Northern blot = RNA
O                          O
Western blot = Proteins

Purines: Adenine and Guanine

Glucose → G6P → F6P → F1-6BiP → G3P+DHP → G3P (DAHP converted to G3P) → 1,3-Bpg → 3-P → 2-P → PEP → Pyruvate

Hexokinase -> Phosphogluco Isomerase -> Phosphofructokinase -> Aldolase -> Triosephophate Isomerase -> Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate (G3P) Dehydrogenase -> Phosphoglycerate Kinase -> Phosphoglycerate mutase -> Enolase -> Pyruvate Kinase

Citrate -> Isocitrate -> A-ketogluterate -> Succinyl-CoA -> Succinate -> Fumarate -> Malate -> Oxaloacetate

Citrate Synthase -> Aconitase -> Isocitrate Dehydrogenase -> Alpha-ketoglutarate Dehydrogenase -> Succinyl-CoA Synthetase -> Succinate Dehydrogenase -> Fumarase -> Malate Dehydrogenase

Enzymes in Irreversible Steps:
Hexokinase
Glucokinase
PFK-1
(Pyruvate)
Kinase

3 Na out, 2K in, 1 ATP

Non-polar AAs:
G
A
V
L
I
M
F
W
P

Polar AAs:
S
T
C
N
Q
Y

Acidic AAs:
D
E

Basic AAs (Karen’s are basic):
K
R
H

Polar Uncharged AA’s:

Glutamine
Serine
Asparagine
Cysteine
Threonine

Electric AA‘s:
H
R
D
K
E

Freud’s Stages of Psychosexual Development
Owls Always Play Late Games

OR

Oral Butt (Anal) PLuG
Oral stage
Anal stage
Phallic stage
Latency stage
Genital stage

Freud Ages

(odd numbers only!)
1-3-5-Puberty-Adult

Piaget’s stages of cognitive development

Sensorimotor 

Preoperational 

Concrete Operations 

Formal Operations

Erik Erikson’s Stages of Development

Trust vs. Mistrust
Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
Initiative vs. Guilt
Industry vs. Inferiority
Identity vs. Confusion
Intimacy vs. Isolation
Generativity vs. Stagnation
Integrity vs. Despair

Kubler-Ross stages of grief

Denial
Anger
Bargaining
Depression
Acceptance

Types of reinforcement

Positive
Negative
Primary
Conditional

Theories of personality

Psychoanalytic
Humanistic
Trait
Social/Cognitive
Behaviorism

Three components of parallel processing

Color

Motion

Shapes

Three components of attitude

• A-Affective (component)- Think affectionate = I LOVE oatmeal; emotional
• B- Behavioral (component) - Think behaves or acts
• C- Cognitive (component) - Think cognition or thinking
  

“All Prejudice Boys Do Crazy Shit”
Affective = Prejudice
Behavioral = Discrimination
Cognitive = Stereotype

OR

A & P (Anatomy and Physio) aka Affective & Prejudice = overall attitude and emotional response
B & D- Bachelor's Degree aka discrimination & behavioral
C & S- Cognitive Science/Computer Science aka cognitive and stereotype

*It can also be C A N O E, depending on your preference.

Five elements of personality

Openness

Conscientiousness

Extraversion

Agreeableness

Neuroticism

Three most important features of attraction

Similarity

Reciprocity

Proximity

Most common mental and psychiatric disorders

Depression

Anxiety

Bipolar Disorder

Phobia

Autism

Schizophrenia

Symptoms of major depressive disorder

Loss of:

Concentration

Appetite

Interest

Guilt

Energy

Will to leave

Sleep

Components of self-determination theory

Competence

Autonomy

Relatedness

Four primary factors for motivation

Drives

Arousal

Needs

Instincts

Components of general adaptation syndrome

Alarm

Resistance

Exhaustion

Four cores of ethical tenets

Beneficence

Justice 

Nonmaleficence

Autonomy

Sequential order of brain waves

Beta

Alpha

Theta

Delta

Seven regions of the brain

Anterior Cingulate Cortex

Broca's Area

Caudate Nucleus

Cerebellum

Frontal Pole

Prefrontal Cortex

Primary Visual Cortex

Functions of meninges

Reabsorb CSF

Anchor brain

Protect brain

Layers of meninges

Pia mater

Arachnoid space

Dura mater

Four primary stimuli

Chemical

Pressure

Light 

Temperature

EEG Stages of Sleep: BATs in KaveSS DD-REaM.

B = Beta - awake
A = Alpha- awake but tired
Stage 1 = Theta - asleep
Stage 2 = K-complexes and Sleep Spindles
Stage 3 = Delta
Stage 4 = Delta
REM = dreams

BATS Drink Blood - beta (awake) alpha (drowsy) theta (stage 1) sleep spindles/k complexes (stage 2) delta (stage 3/4) beta (back awake). Of course you could replace the blood b with REM cause it contains beta, alpha, and other random waves.