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BDS General Physiology Syllabus
Every chapter and topic of General Physiology examined in BDS — 10 chapters, 43 topics and 105 sub-topics, plus 56 flashcards written against it.
General Physiology syllabus — full chapter and topic list
Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for General Physiology in BDS, not a summary of it.
-
Cell Physiology
3 topics- Cell Structure
- Cell Membrane
- Cytoplasm
- Nucleus
- Cell Functions
- Transport Mechanisms
- Cell Signaling
- Cell Division
- Membrane Potential
- Resting Membrane Potential
- Action Potential
- Cell Structure
-
Blood and Immune System
4 topics- Blood Composition
- Plasma
- Blood Cells
- Hemostasis
- Coagulation Cascade
- Platelet Function
- Immune Response
- Innate Immunity
- Adaptive Immunity
- Blood Groups
- ABO System
- Rh System
- Blood Composition
-
Cardiovascular System
4 topics- Heart Anatomy
- Chambers of the Heart
- Heart Valves
- Cardiac Cycle
- Phases of Cardiac Cycle
- Heart Sounds
- Electrophysiology
- Cardiac Action Potential
- Electrocardiogram (ECG)
- Hemodynamics
- Blood Pressure
- Blood Flow
- Heart Anatomy
-
Respiratory System
4 topics- Respiratory Anatomy
- Upper Respiratory Tract
- Lower Respiratory Tract
- Mechanics of Breathing
- Inspiration
- Expiration
- Gas Exchange
- Alveolar Gas Exchange
- Transport of Gases
- Regulation of Respiration
- Neural Regulation
- Chemical Regulation
- Respiratory Anatomy
-
Nervous System
5 topics- Neuroanatomy
- Central Nervous System
- Peripheral Nervous System
- Neurophysiology
- Synaptic Transmission
- Neurotransmitters
- Sensory Systems
- Somatosensory System
- Visual System
- Auditory System
- Olfactory System
- Gustatory System
- Motor Systems
- Motor Cortex
- Basal Ganglia
- Cerebellum
- Autonomic Nervous System
- Sympathetic Nervous System
- Parasympathetic Nervous System
- Neuroanatomy
-
Endocrine System
6 topics- Hormone Classification
- Peptide Hormones
- Steroid Hormones
- Amino Acid Derivatives
- Hypothalamus and Pituitary Gland
- Hypothalamic Hormones
- Pituitary Hormones
- Thyroid Gland
- Thyroid Hormones
- Regulation of Thyroid Function
- Adrenal Glands
- Adrenal Cortex
- Adrenal Medulla
- Pancreas
- Insulin
- Glucagon
- Reproductive Hormones
- Male Reproductive Hormones
- Female Reproductive Hormones
- Hormone Classification
-
Renal System
4 topics- Kidney Anatomy
- Nephron Structure
- Renal Blood Flow
- Urine Formation
- Glomerular Filtration
- Tubular Reabsorption
- Tubular Secretion
- Fluid and Electrolyte Balance
- Water Balance
- Electrolyte Balance
- Acid-Base Balance
- Buffer Systems
- Respiratory Regulation
- Renal Regulation
- Kidney Anatomy
-
Digestive System
4 topics- Gastrointestinal Tract Anatomy
- Mouth and Esophagus
- Stomach
- Small Intestine
- Large Intestine
- Digestive Processes
- Ingestion
- Propulsion
- Mechanical Digestion
- Chemical Digestion
- Absorption
- Defecation
- Accessory Digestive Organs
- Liver
- Pancreas
- Gallbladder
- Regulation of Digestion
- Neural Regulation
- Hormonal Regulation
- Gastrointestinal Tract Anatomy
-
Musculoskeletal System
4 topics- Muscle Physiology
- Skeletal Muscle
- Cardiac Muscle
- Smooth Muscle
- Mechanics of Muscle Contraction
- Sliding Filament Theory
- Neuromuscular Junction
- Bone Physiology
- Bone Structure
- Bone Remodeling
- Joints and Movement
- Types of Joints
- Joint Movements
- Muscle Physiology
-
Special Senses
5 topics- Vision
- Anatomy of the Eye
- Phototransduction
- Visual Pathways
- Hearing
- Anatomy of the Ear
- Mechanics of Hearing
- Auditory Pathways
- Taste
- Taste Buds
- Taste Pathways
- Smell
- Olfactory Epithelium
- Olfactory Pathways
- Equilibrium
- Vestibular Apparatus
- Balance Pathways
- Vision
General Physiology flashcards for BDS
19 of 56 cards from the General Physiology deck — real questions with worked answers.
What are the three major structural components of a eukaryotic cell?
The plasma membrane, the cytoplasm (containing organelles and cytosol), and the nucleus.
What is the fluid mosaic model of the plasma membrane?
A model describing the membrane as a fluid phospholipid bilayer with embedded proteins (integral and peripheral), cholesterol, and carbohydrates that can move laterally within the layer.
Which organelle is the site of aerobic ATP production, and by what process?
The mitochondrion, via oxidative phosphorylation (the electron transport chain and chemiosmosis) coupled to the citric acid cycle.
Distinguish the functions of rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum.
Rough ER (studded with ribosomes) synthesizes and folds proteins; smooth ER synthesizes lipids/steroids, metabolizes carbohydrates, detoxifies drugs, and stores $\ce{Ca^{2+}}$.
State the Nernst equation for the equilibrium potential of an ion and give the value of the constant at body temperature.
$$E_{ion} = \frac{RT}{zF}\ln\frac{[\text{ion}]_{out}}{[\text{ion}]_{in}}$$ At $37^{\circ}C$ this reduces to $E_{ion} = \frac{61}{z}\log_{10}\frac{[\text{ion}]_{out}}{[\text{ion}]_{in}}$ mV.
What is the typical resting membrane potential of a neuron, and which ion's equilibrium potential does it lie closest to?
About $-70$ mV, lying closest to the $\ce{K+}$ equilibrium potential (approximately $-90$ mV) because the resting membrane is most permeable to $\ce{K+}$.
What role does the $\ce{Na+}/\ce{K+}$-ATPase play in the membrane potential?
It pumps 3 $\ce{Na+}$ out and 2 $\ce{K+}$ in per ATP, maintaining the concentration gradients and contributing a small electrogenic component (about $-4$ mV) to the resting potential.
List the sequential phases of a neuronal action potential.
Resting state, depolarization (rapid $\ce{Na+}$ influx after threshold), repolarization ($\ce{Na+}$ channels inactivate, $\ce{K+}$ efflux), hyperpolarization/undershoot, and return to rest.
What is the approximate percentage composition of blood by plasma and formed elements?
About 55% plasma and 45% formed elements (mostly erythrocytes); the fraction of blood volume occupied by red cells is the hematocrit.
Name the three types of formed elements in blood and their primary functions.
Erythrocytes (red cells) carry $\ce{O2}$ and $\ce{CO2}$; leukocytes (white cells) provide immune defense; thrombocytes (platelets) mediate hemostasis/clotting.
What is the normal range of blood pH and which system is the main immediate buffer?
Normal arterial blood pH is $7.35$ to $7.45$; the bicarbonate buffer system ($\ce{H2CO3 <=> H+ + HCO3-}$) is the principal buffer.
What is the normal hemoglobin concentration in adult men and women?
Approximately $13.5$–$17.5$ g/dL in men and $12.0$–$15.5$ g/dL in women.
Define hemostasis and list its three main phases.
Hemostasis is the process that stops bleeding from a damaged vessel. Its phases are: (1) vascular spasm (vasoconstriction), (2) platelet plug formation, and (3) coagulation (blood clotting).
Contrast the intrinsic and extrinsic coagulation pathways and where they converge.
The intrinsic pathway is triggered by contact with exposed collagen (all factors within blood); the extrinsic pathway is triggered by tissue factor (factor III) from damaged tissue. Both converge at the activation of factor X (the common pathway).
What is the final common step of coagulation catalyzed by thrombin?
Thrombin converts soluble fibrinogen (factor I) into insoluble fibrin, which polymerizes and is cross-linked by factor XIIIa to stabilize the clot.
Which vitamin is essential for the synthesis of clotting factors II, VII, IX, and X?
Vitamin K, which is required for gamma-carboxylation of these factors in the liver.
Differentiate innate from adaptive immunity.
Innate immunity is non-specific, immediate, and lacks memory (barriers, phagocytes, complement, inflammation). Adaptive immunity is antigen-specific, slower to develop, and forms immunological memory (lymphocytes/antibodies).
Contrast humoral and cell-mediated adaptive immunity.
Humoral immunity is mediated by B lymphocytes producing antibodies against extracellular pathogens; cell-mediated immunity is mediated by T lymphocytes (cytotoxic and helper) acting against intracellular pathogens and infected/tumor cells.
What are the five classes of immunoglobulins and one distinguishing feature of each?
IgG (most abundant, crosses placenta), IgA (mucosal secretions), IgM (first produced, pentamer), IgE (allergy/parasites), IgD (B-cell receptor).
Planning General Physiology for BDS
General Physiology is about 7% of the BDS syllabus by topic count — 43 of 606 topics, spread over 10 chapters. At roughly 45 minutes per topic plus 12 minutes per sub-topic, a first pass runs to about 55 hours.
The heaviest chapters are Endocrine System (6 topics), Nervous System (5 topics), Special Senses (5 topics) . Front-load those while your energy is high; the short chapters are better revision filler later.
Work top-down: read the chapter, then tick topics off individually rather than marking the whole chapter done. Sub-topics are where silent gaps hide.
General Physiology (BDS) FAQ
What is in the BDS General Physiology syllabus?
General Physiology is split into 10 chapters — Cell Physiology, Blood and Immune System, Cardiovascular System, Respiratory System, Nervous System and Endocrine System, and 4 more, containing 43 topics and 105 sub-topics in total.
How is General Physiology structured in the BDS syllabus?
10 chapters. General Physiology accounts for about 7% of the topics in the whole BDS syllabus (43 of 606).
How long should I spend on General Physiology for BDS?
Budget around 55 hours for a first pass through General Physiology — about 45 minutes per topic plus 12 minutes per sub-topic across its 43 topics. Add revision cycles on top.
Are there flashcards for BDS General Physiology?
Yes — a 56-card General Physiology deck. Sample cards are printed on this page, and the full deck is free in the Examius app with spaced repetition scheduling.