FCPS Part 1 Anatomy
Every anatomy chapter in our FCPS Part 1 textbook, in CPSP syllabus order. Each chapter covers what past papers keep asking and ends with questions from our bank.
Most repeated anatomy topicsAnatomy MCQsHow to study anatomyNeuroanatomy guideEmbryology guideHistology guideWhole textbook
General and systemic embryology
- Gametogenesis and fertilisationGametogenesis, fertilisation, implantation and placenta: FCPS embryology
- Germ layers and neural crestBilaminar and trilaminar disc, germ layer derivatives and neural crest
- Neural tube defectsNeural tube formation and neural tube defects: spina bifida, anencephaly
- Pharyngeal archesPharyngeal arches, pouches and clefts; face, palate and thyroid development
- Heart developmentHeart and great vessels development and fetal circulation: FCPS embryology
- Gut developmentGut development: midgut rotation, atresia, Meckel diverticulum, Hirschsprung
- Urogenital developmentUrogenital development: kidney, bladder, gonads, genital ducts and anomalies
- Lung and diaphragm developmentLung and diaphragm development, surfactant and congenital diaphragmatic hernia
- Limb development and teratogensLimb and musculoskeletal development, teratogens and twinning: FCPS embryology
General and special histology
- Epithelium histologyEpithelium, glands and cell junctions: histology for FCPS Part 1
- Connective tissue histologyConnective tissue, cartilage, bone and joints: histology for FCPS Part 1
- Muscle and nerve histologyMuscle and nerve tissue: histology of muscle types, neurones and glia
- Gut histologyGut histology from oesophagus to colon; liver, gallbladder and pancreas
- Lung and lymphoid histologyLung, blood vessel and lymphoid organ histology: spleen, thymus, lymph node
- Kidney and endocrine histologyKidney, urinary tract, reproductive, skin and endocrine histology
Upper limb
- Brachial plexusBrachial plexus anatomy: roots, trunks, cords, branches, Erb and Klumpke palsy
- Shoulder joint and rotator cuffAxilla, scapular muscles, shoulder joint and rotator cuff: FCPS anatomy
- Arm and cubital fossaArm, cubital fossa and elbow anatomy: radial nerve in the spiral groove
- Forearm and carpal tunnelForearm compartments, wrist, carpal tunnel and anatomical snuffbox: FCPS anatomy
- Hand anatomyHand anatomy: thenar, hypothenar, lumbricals, interossei, spaces and infections
- Upper limb nerve injuriesUpper limb nerve injuries: median, ulnar, radial, axillary, musculocutaneous
- Upper limb blood supplyUpper limb arteries, anastomoses, veins and lymphatic drainage: FCPS anatomy
- Upper limb bones and fracturesUpper limb bones, joints and fractures: structures at risk for FCPS
Lower limb
- Lumbosacral plexusLumbosacral plexus: femoral, obturator and sciatic nerves for FCPS Part 1
- Femoral triangleFemoral triangle, femoral sheath, femoral canal and adductor canal anatomy
- Gluteal region and hip jointGluteal region and hip joint anatomy: sciatic foramina, Trendelenburg, injections
- Thigh compartmentsThigh compartments and muscles: nerves, actions, patella and fascia lata
- Popliteal fossa and knee jointPopliteal fossa and knee joint: ligaments, menisci, bursae and injuries
- Leg compartmentsLeg compartments, common peroneal and tibial nerves, compartment syndrome
- Ankle and foot anatomyAnkle and foot anatomy: ligaments, arches, sole layers, tarsal tunnel
- Lower limb blood supplyLower limb arteries, veins, varicose veins, DVT and lymph drainage
- Lower limb bones and fracturesLower limb bones, fractures, bone tumours, posture and gait for FCPS
Thorax
- Thoracic wall and intercostal spacesThoracic wall, ribs and intercostal spaces; chest drain site and nerve blocks
- Breast anatomyBreast anatomy: structure, hormones, blood supply and lymph drainage
- Diaphragm anatomyDiaphragm anatomy: openings, vertebral levels, nerve supply and hernias
- Mediastinum and thoracic ductMediastinum, oesophagus, thoracic duct, vagus and sympathetic trunk
- Lungs and pleuraLungs and pleura anatomy: lobes, fissures, segments, recesses, surface markings
- Heart and pericardiumHeart and pericardium anatomy: chambers, valves, conduction, coronary arteries
- Coronary arteriesCoronary arteries and cardiac veins: territories, dominance and coronary sinus
Abdomen
- Anterior abdominal wallAnterior abdominal wall: layers, rectus sheath, vessels, nerves and dermatomes
- Inguinal canal and herniasInguinal canal, spermatic cord and hernias: inguinal, femoral and others
- Peritoneum and lesser sacPeritoneum: Omenta, Lesser Sac, Epiploic Foramen and Peritoneal Spaces
- Stomach and small intestineStomach, Duodenum and Small Intestine: Anatomy, Blood Supply and Surgery
- Large intestine and anal canalLarge Intestine, Appendix, Rectum and Anal Canal: Anatomy for FCPS
- Liver and gallbladder anatomyLiver, biliary tree and gallbladder anatomy; Calot's triangle for FCPS
- Pancreas and spleen anatomyPancreas and Spleen: Relations, Blood Supply, Development and Clinical Anatomy
- Portal vein and portal hypertensionPortal Vein, Portal Hypertension and Portosystemic Anastomoses
- Arterial supply of the gutGut Arteries: Coeliac Trunk, SMA, IMA, Anastomoses and Watershed Areas
- Kidney and suprarenal anatomyKidney, ureter and suprarenal gland anatomy: relations, coverings, constrictions
- Posterior abdominal wallPosterior Abdominal Wall: Aorta, IVC, Lumbar Triangles and Lymph Drainage
Pelvis and perineum
- Bony pelvis and pelvic floorBony Pelvis, Pelvic Floor and Pelvic Diaphragm: Anatomy for FCPS
- Bladder, urethra and prostateBladder, Urethra and Prostate: Anatomy, Injuries and Clinical Links
- Male genital organsMale Genital Organs: Testis, Epididymis, Vas Deferens, Scrotum and Penis
- Female genital organsFemale Genital Organs: Uterus, Ovary, Tubes, Vagina and Uterine Supports
- Perineum and pudendal nervePerineum: Pudendal Nerve, Ischioanal Fossa and Perineal Pouches
- Pelvic vessels and nervesPelvic Vessels, Nerves and Lymph Drainage: Internal Iliac, Ureter and Plexuses
Head, neck and back
- Face, scalp and facial nerveScalp, Face, Facial Nerve and Muscles of Facial Expression
- Skull and dural venous sinusesSkull, Cranial Fossae, Foramina and Dural Venous Sinuses
- Orbit and extraocular musclesOrbit, Eyeball and Extraocular Muscles: Anatomy for FCPS
- Nose and paranasal sinusesNose, Paranasal Sinuses and Pterygopalatine Fossa: Anatomy for FCPS
- Oral cavity and salivary glandsOral Cavity, Tongue, Palate, Teeth, Tonsils and Salivary Glands
- Trigeminal nerve and TMJMuscles of Mastication, TMJ, Mandible and Trigeminal Nerve
- Triangles of the neckNeck: Fascia, Spaces, Triangles, Cervical Plexus and Accessory Nerve
- Thyroid and parathyroid anatomyThyroid and parathyroid anatomy and the laryngeal nerves: FCPS Part 1
- Pharynx and larynxPharynx, Larynx, Swallowing and Vocal Cord Movements
- Neck vesselsNeck Vessels: Carotid Arteries, Subclavian, Jugular Veins and Carotid Sinus
- Ear anatomyEar Anatomy: External, Middle and Inner Ear for FCPS
- Vertebral columnVertebral column: typical and atypical vertebrae, joints, ligaments and disc prolapse
Neuroanatomy
- Spinal cord tractsSpinal cord: tracts, blood supply, cord syndromes and Brown-Séquard
- Brainstem anatomyBrainstem: midbrain, pons, medulla, cranial nerve nuclei and brainstem syndromes
- Cranial nervesCranial nerves I–XII: nuclei, exits, functions, reflexes and lesions
- Cerebral cortexCerebral cortex: lobes, Brodmann areas, speech areas and aphasias
- Internal capsule and basal gangliaInternal capsule, basal ganglia and thalamus: anatomy, circuits and lesions
- Cerebellum anatomyCerebellum: functional divisions, cortex, peduncles, connections and lesions
- Ventricles and CSFVentricles, CSF circulation, hydrocephalus, raised pressure and meninges
- Blood supply of the brainBlood supply of the brain: circle of Willis, stroke territories and syndromes
- Visual pathwayVisual pathway: field defects, pupillary reflexes and their lesions
- Autonomic nervous system anatomyAutonomic nervous system: sympathetic and parasympathetic outflow, ganglia and Horner
- Limbic system and hypothalamusLimbic system, hypothalamus and reticular formation: functions and lesions
Paper 2 chapters (specialty)
- Limb nerve lesionsUpper and lower limb nerve lesions, roots, pulses and veins (FCPS Part 1)
- Abdomen and pelvis anatomyAbdomen and pelvis anatomy: gut, liver, portal system, kidney, adrenal and bladder
- Head and neck anatomyHead, neck and spine anatomy: cranial nerves, neck, thyroid, cord and lumbar puncture
- Female genital tract developmentDevelopment of the ovary, uterus, tubes, cervix and vagina: Müllerian and Wolffian ducts
- Urinary tract developmentDevelopment of the kidney, ureter, bladder and rectum: cloaca and urorectal septum
- Genital tract anomaliesGenital tract anomalies: uterine malformations, vaginal obstruction and DSD
- Pituitary and adrenal developmentDevelopment of the pituitary and adrenal glands
- Placenta and umbilical cordPlacenta, fetal membranes, umbilical cord and twinning
- Ovary and fallopian tube histologyOvary and fallopian tube histology: follicles, corpus luteum and the tubal lining
- Uterus and cervix histologyUterus, cervix and vagina histology: the endometrial cycle, transformation zone and vaginal epithelium
- Breast histologyBreast histology: resting, pregnant and lactating breast, and how milk is secreted
- Kidney and bladder histologyKidney, ureter and bladder histology
- Bony pelvisBony pelvis: types, inlet and outlet diameters and their obstetric importance
- Pelvic floorPelvic walls and floor: levator ani, perineal body, pelvic fascia and their nerve supply
- Supports of the uterusSupports of the uterus: ligaments, levels of support and their role in prolapse
- Female perineumFemale perineum: pudendal nerve, perineal pouches, Bartholin gland and episiotomy
- Anal sphinctersAnal canal and anal sphincters; obstetric anal sphincter injury
- Pouch of DouglasPeritoneal reflections of the female pelvis: pouch of Douglas, vesicouterine and rectovesical pouches
- Female pelvic organsUterus, ovaries, tubes and vagina: parts, supports, relations and lymph drainage
- Pelvic blood supplyBlood supply of the pelvic organs: internal iliac, uterine and ovarian arteries; ligation and embolisation in haemorrhage
- Ureter anatomyUreter: course, relations to the uterine artery, and injury at gynaecological surgery
- Urinary bladder and urethraUrinary bladder and urethra: structure, relations, nerve supply, micturition and disease
- Lymphatic drainage of the pelvisLymphatic drainage of the pelvic organs and the vulva
- Pelvic nerves and plexusesLumbosacral plexus, pelvic splanchnic nerves, sacral sympathetic trunk and hypogastric plexuses
- Anterior abdominal wall (Gynae & Obs Paper 2)Anterior abdominal wall: layers, rectus sheath, vessels, nerves and incisions
- Female inguinal canalInguinal region and inguinal canal in the female
- Breast development and pathologyBreast: development, structure, blood supply, lymph drainage and common pathology
- Skull and skull base foraminaSkull, facial bones, mandible and teeth; skull base foramina
- Paranasal sinuses and orbitNasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, orbit and its contents: anatomy and imaging
- Pharynx and deep neck spacesOral cavity, salivary glands, pharynx and the deep spaces of the neck
- Larynx and thyroidLarynx, thyroid and parathyroid glands: anatomy, embryology and imaging
- Neck nodes and temporal boneNeck vessels and lymph node levels; ear and temporal bone
- Cerebral hemispheresCerebral hemispheres on imaging: cortex, white matter, internal capsule and limbic lobe
- Basal ganglia and pituitaryBasal ganglia, thalamus, hypothalamus, pineal and pituitary on imaging
- Brainstem and cerebellumBrainstem, cerebellum and cranial nerves on imaging: lesions and posterior fossa masses
- Ventricles and CSF (Radiology Paper 2)Ventricles, cisterns, CSF flow and meninges: hydrocephalus and intracranial bleeds
- Blood supply of the brain (Radiology Paper 2)Arterial supply of the brain, internal carotid artery and venous drainage
- Vertebral column (Radiology Paper 2)Vertebral column: joints, ligaments, intervertebral discs and blood supply
- Spinal cord and meningesSpinal cord, spinal meninges and blood supply of the cord
- Thoracic cage and pleuraThoracic cage, diaphragm and pleura on imaging
- Bronchopulmonary segmentsTrachea, bronchi and lungs on imaging: lobes, segments, fissures and collapse
- Mediastinum on imagingMediastinum on the chest radiograph and CT: divisions, borders, lines and masses
- Heart and great vesselsHeart, valves, great vessels and coronary arteries on imaging
- Oesophagus and azygos systemOesophagus, thoracic duct, thymus, azygos system and mediastinal nerves
- Abdominal wall and peritoneumAnterior abdominal wall, hernias and peritoneal spaces on imaging
- Gastrointestinal tract anatomyStomach, duodenum, small and large bowel, rectum and appendix on imaging
- Liver segments and biliary treeLiver segments, biliary tree, pancreas and spleen on imaging
- Aorta, IVC and portal veinPortal vein, abdominal aorta, IVC and posterior abdominal wall on imaging
- Kidneys and adrenal glandsKidneys, ureters and adrenal glands on imaging: anatomy, variants and masses
- Bony pelvis and pelvic floor (Radiology Paper 2)Bony pelvis, pelvic floor, muscles and ligaments on imaging
- Rectum and anal canalSigmoid colon, rectum and anal canal on imaging
- Pelvic vessels and nerves (Radiology Paper 2)Pelvic vessels, lymphatics and nerves on imaging
- Bladder, prostate and testisBladder, urethra, prostate and testis on imaging: anatomy, injuries and tumours
- Female reproductive tractFemale reproductive tract on imaging
- Upper limb anatomyUpper limb on imaging: bones, joints, muscles, nerves, arteries and veins
- Lower limb anatomyLower limb on imaging: bones, joints, muscles, arteries and veins
- Breast anatomy (Radiology Paper 2)Breast anatomy: lobes, hormones, age changes, blood supply and lymph drainage
- Lymphatic systemLymphatic system and lymph node groups by region