Depending on what you study, RG is only partially correct. In the more understanding-based areas of physical and some biological sciences and math, memorization is worthless. Anything that would need memorizing is given to you, even at exams. But I don't think this is representative of most areas of study.
You mention anatomy/physiology... that's mostly memorization. I can't help with that kind of thing much, as I suck at memorizing anything. Personally, knowing the Latin or Greek origins of the words helps me.
Reading the chapters before lecture can help, as you will be able to follow along during lecture easier, and devote more mental energy to understanding rather than being introduced to something completely new.
Know the profs style and preference. Do they go by the text or their own material they cover in class? What are they focusing on for the course? What is their teaching style?
Some courses focus on reading and knowing the material, and some purely on doing problems (examples of the latter would be organic chemistry and anything physics or math based). Figure out what is important to spend your study time doing.
External sources can be a big help, too. Schaum's, REA's, Cliff's, etc. You can also check online for a student solution manual if it's available for the text.
As far as how to study, everyone's different. Learn what works for you. It might take some trial and error -- don't worry, it's normal. A good book on studying would be "What Smart Students Know".
