FCPS Part 1 Physiology
Every physiology 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 physiology topicsPhysiology MCQsHow to study physiologyWhole textbook
Cell, nerve and muscle
- Membrane potentialMembrane transport, resting membrane potential and action potential
- Neuromuscular junctionSynapse and neuromuscular junction: transmission, drugs, toxins and myasthenia
- Muscle contractionSkeletal, cardiac and smooth muscle contraction; excitation-contraction coupling
- Cell signallingCell signalling: receptor types, G proteins and second messengers (cAMP, IP3, cGMP)
Blood and immunity
- Red cells and erythropoiesisRed cells, haemoglobin, oxygen carriage, erythropoiesis and anaemia
- White cells and immunityWhite cells, immunity, antibodies, hypersensitivity and allergy
- Haemostasis and coagulationHaemostasis and coagulation: platelets, clotting cascade, PT, APTT and bleeding disorders
- Blood groups and transfusionBlood groups and transfusion: ABO, Rh, compatibility, components and reactions
Cardiovascular system
- Cardiac action potentialCardiac muscle, conduction and action potentials
- Cardiac cycleCardiac Cycle, Heart Sounds, JVP and Pressures: FCPS Part 1 Physiology
- Cardiac outputCardiac Output, Venous Return and the Frank–Starling Law: FCPS Part 1
- ECG and arrhythmiasECG, Arrhythmias and Heart Block: FCPS Part 1 Physiology Guide
- Blood pressure regulationArterial Pressure and Its Regulation: Baroreflex, RAAS, Kidney (FCPS Part 1)
- Starling forces and oedemaMicrocirculation, Starling Forces, Oedema and Lymph: FCPS Part 1 Physiology
- Regional circulationsRegional circulations: coronary, cerebral, pulmonary, skin and muscle blood flow
- Shock and heart failureShock and heart failure: types, compensation after haemorrhage and HF physiology
Respiratory system
- Lung volumes and spirometryLung volumes, capacities, dead space and pulmonary function tests (spirometry)
- Mechanics of breathingMechanics of breathing: compliance, surfactant, pleural pressure and airway resistance
- Ventilation-perfusion ratioVentilation–perfusion (V/Q), diffusion, shunt and gas exchange in the lung
- Oxygen dissociation curveOxygen and carbon dioxide transport; the dissociation curve
- Control of breathingControl of breathing: chemoreceptors, hypoxia, cyanosis, altitude and oxygen therapy
Gastrointestinal system and liver
- Gastrointestinal motilityGI motility: swallowing, gastric emptying, peristalsis, vomiting and defecation
- Gastrointestinal secretionsSalivary, gastric, pancreatic and biliary secretion: cells, control and composition
- Gastrointestinal hormonesGI hormones: gastrin, secretin, CCK, GIP, GLP-1, motilin and somatostatin
- Digestion and absorptionDigestion and absorption: carbohydrate, protein, fat, water, iron, B12 and calcium
- Liver functions and bilirubinLiver functions, bilirubin metabolism, jaundice and liver failure
Renal physiology, body fluids and acid-base
- Body fluid compartmentsBody fluid compartments: volumes, markers, osmolality and fluid shifts
- GFR and renal clearanceGFR, renal blood flow, autoregulation and renal clearance (with worked calculations)
- Tubular reabsorption and secretionTubular reabsorption and secretion: what each nephron segment does, diuretics and Tm
- Countercurrent mechanismUrine concentration: countercurrent multiplier, ADH, diabetes insipidus and SIADH
- Renal electrolyte handlingSodium, potassium, calcium, phosphate and magnesium handling by the kidney
- Acid-base balanceAcid–base balance: buffers, ABG interpretation, anion gap, RTA and mixed disorders
- Micturition reflexMicturition and bladder function: nerve supply, reflex centres and neurogenic bladder
Nervous system
- Somatosensory pathways and painSensory receptors, somatosensory pathways, pain physiology and referred pain
- Motor systemMotor system: motor cortex, corticospinal tract, extrapyramidal tracts, UMN vs LMN
- Spinal reflexesSpinal reflexes, muscle spindle, Golgi tendon organ, spinal shock, clonus and posture
- Cerebellum and basal gangliaCerebellum and basal ganglia: cerebellar signs, Parkinson disease, chorea and tremor
- Sleep, memory and speechHigher functions: sleep stages, EEG, memory, speech areas, limbic system and hypothalamus
- Autonomic nervous systemAutonomic nervous system: sympathetic, parasympathetic, receptors and transmitters
- Temperature regulationTemperature regulation, fever, heat illness and hypothermia
Special senses
- Physiology of visionVision: optics, retina, rods and cones, colour vision, accommodation and pupil reflexes
- Hearing and balanceHearing and balance: middle ear, cochlea, hair cells, hearing tests and vestibular system
- Smell and tasteSmell and taste: olfactory pathway, taste buds, taste nerves and disorders
Endocrinology
- Pituitary hormonesHormone mechanisms, feedback, hypothalamus and pituitary: GH, prolactin, ADH, oxytocin
- Thyroid hormonesThyroid hormones: synthesis, actions, thyroid function tests, hypo- and hyperthyroidism
- Adrenal hormonesAdrenal cortex and medulla: cortisol, aldosterone, CAH, Cushing and Addison disease
- Insulin and glucagonEndocrine pancreas: insulin release, insulin and glucagon actions, diabetes, DKA and HHS
- Calcium and bone physiologyCalcium and bone: PTH, vitamin D, calcitonin, hyper- and hypocalcaemia, bone drugs
Reproduction
- Male reproductive physiologyMale reproductive physiology: spermatogenesis, testosterone, semen and male infertility
- Female reproductive physiologyFemale reproductive physiology: menstrual cycle, ovulation, puberty and menopause
- Pregnancy physiologyPregnancy physiology: placental hormones, maternal changes, labour and lactation
- Fetal and neonatal physiologyFetal and neonatal physiology: fetal circulation, HbF, surfactant and newborn adaptation
Exercise and unusual environments
- Exercise and high altitudeExercise physiology, high altitude, diving, microgravity and heat stress
Paper 2 chapters (specialty)
- Pituitary hormones and prolactinHypothalamic and pituitary hormones; prolactin and its control
- Thyroid in pregnancyThyroid in pregnancy and the newborn
- Calcium and parathyroid hormoneCalcium, parathyroid hormone and vitamin D; bone in pregnancy, lactation and menopause
- Mechanism of hormone actionMechanism of hormone action: receptors, second messengers and receptor disorders
- Adrenal hormones and insulinAdrenal hormones, insulin and glucagon in pregnancy
- Hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axisGonadotrophins and the hypothalamic–pituitary–ovarian axis
- Menstrual cycleMenstrual cycle: ovarian and endometrial phases; ovulation
- Puberty and menopausePuberty, precocious and delayed puberty, menarche and menopause
- Sex steroid hormonesOestrogen, progesterone and androgens: actions; male reproduction and spermatogenesis
- Fertilisation and implantationFertilisation, implantation and placental hormones (hCG, hPL)
- Maternal changes in pregnancyMaternal adaptation to pregnancy: cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, haematological and metabolic
- Fetal circulationFetal circulation, fetal haemoglobin and oxygen transfer across the placenta
- Physiology of labourParturition: onset and mechanism of labour, oxytocin and prostaglandins
- Lactation physiologyLactation: prolactin, oxytocin, milk ejection reflex and lactational amenorrhoea
- Blood pressure and cardiac outputArterial pressure regulation and cardiac output in pregnancy, haemorrhage and shock
- Respiratory physiology (Gynae & Obs Paper 2)Ventilation, gas transport and hypoxia, including respiratory changes in pregnancy
- Pain pathways and labour painPain pathways, labour pain and thermal sensation; the micturition reflex
- Glycolysis and the TCA cycleEnergy metabolism: glycolysis, the citric acid cycle and their regulation; enzyme kinetics
- Special sensesSmell, taste, vision, hearing and equilibrium
- Autonomic nervous system (Radiology Paper 2)
- Speech, motor and sensory systemsLanguage and speech; motor and sensory systems
- Pituitary and adrenal glandsHypothalamus, pituitary and adrenal glands: feedback, hormones and disorders
- Bone physiologyBone physiology: calcium, PTH, vitamin D, remodelling and bone imaging
- Reproductive physiologyFemale and male reproductive physiology: cycle, hormones, pregnancy and testis
- Diabetes mellitusEndocrine pancreas and diabetes mellitus: insulin, glucagon, crises and complications
- Gastrointestinal physiologyGI function: regulation, secretion, motility and absorption
- Liver physiology and bilirubinLiver physiology, bilirubin and bile
- Heart as a pumpThe heart as a pump; dynamics of blood and lymph flow
- Cardiovascular regulationCardiovascular regulatory mechanisms: reflexes, renin–angiotensin system and autoregulation
- Respiratory physiology (Radiology Paper 2)Lung mechanics, gas exchange and transport, and the control of breathing
- Renal physiologyRenal physiology: clearance, GFR, tubular transport, ADH, fluids and micturition