Pre-Clinical Physiology Syllabus

Physiology syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Physiology in Pre-Clinical, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   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
2. 2

   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
3. 3

   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
4. 4

   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
5. 5

   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
6. 6

   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
7. 7

   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
8. 8

   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
9. 9

   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
10. 10

    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

Physiology flashcards for Pre-Clinical

22 of 60 cards from the Physiology deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What is the fluid mosaic model of the cell membrane?

   A model describing the plasma membrane as a phospholipid bilayer (amphipathic, hydrophilic heads out, hydrophobic tails in) with proteins, cholesterol, and glycolipids floating in or spanning it, giving the membrane fluidity and selective permeability.

2. Which organelle is the site of aerobic ATP production, and by what process?

   The mitochondrion, via oxidative phosphorylation on the inner membrane, coupling the electron transport chain to ATP synthase.

3. Distinguish the functions of rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum.

   Rough ER (ribosome-studded) synthesizes and folds membrane and secretory proteins; smooth ER synthesizes lipids/steroids, detoxifies drugs, and stores $\ce{Ca^2+}$.

4. What is the role of the Golgi apparatus?

   It modifies, sorts, and packages proteins and lipids from the ER into vesicles for secretion, plasma-membrane delivery, or lysosomal targeting (e.g., via glycosylation).

5. Compare primary active transport and secondary active transport.

   Primary active transport uses ATP directly (e.g., $\ce{Na+/K+}$-ATPase); secondary active transport uses the electrochemical gradient set up by primary transport to move another solute (symport/cotransport or antiport/exchange).

6. State the stoichiometry and net charge movement of the $\ce{Na+/K+}$-ATPase per cycle.

   It pumps 3 $\ce{Na+}$ out and 2 $\ce{K+}$ in per ATP hydrolyzed, exporting one net positive charge (electrogenic).

7. Define the resting membrane potential and give a typical value for a neuron.

   The voltage difference across the membrane of a resting cell, with the inside negative relative to outside; typically about $-70\ \text{mV}$ in a neuron.

8. Write the Nernst equation for a monovalent cation at 37 °C and state the constant.

   $$E_{ion} = \frac{61}{z}\log_{10}\frac{[ion]_{out}}{[ion]_{in}}$$ where $z$ is valence; the factor $61\ \text{mV}$ applies at body temperature.

9. What does the Goldman-Hodgkin-Katz equation determine that the Nernst equation does not?

   The GHK equation gives the actual resting membrane potential accounting for the permeabilities of multiple ions ($\ce{Na+}$, $\ce{K+}$, $\ce{Cl-}$) simultaneously, whereas Nernst gives the equilibrium potential for a single ion.

10. List the phases of a neuronal action potential.

    Resting state, depolarization (voltage-gated $\ce{Na+}$ channels open), repolarization (voltage-gated $\ce{K+}$ channels open, $\ce{Na+}$ channels inactivate), hyperpolarization/undershoot, and return to rest.

11. Differentiate the absolute and relative refractory periods.

    During the absolute refractory period no stimulus can trigger another action potential ($\ce{Na+}$ channels inactivated); during the relative refractory period a stronger-than-normal stimulus can trigger one (some $\ce{Na+}$ channels recovered, $\ce{K+}$ still elevated).

12. What are the approximate percentages of plasma, buffy coat, and red cells in centrifuged whole blood?

    Plasma is about 55%, the buffy coat (leukocytes and platelets) is under 1%, and red cells (hematocrit) are about 45%.

13. What is normal hematocrit, and how does it differ between adult men and women?

    Hematocrit is the fraction of blood volume occupied by red cells; roughly 40–52% in men and 36–48% in women.

14. Name the most abundant plasma protein and its two main functions.

    Albumin; it maintains plasma colloid osmotic (oncotic) pressure and serves as a transport carrier for many substances (e.g., fatty acids, drugs, bilirubin).

15. List the five types of leukocytes in order of decreasing normal abundance.

    Neutrophils > lymphocytes > monocytes > eosinophils > basophils ('Never Let Monkeys Eat Bananas').

16. What is the lifespan of a red blood cell and where is it destroyed?

    About 120 days; senescent RBCs are removed by macrophages of the reticuloendothelial system, chiefly in the spleen and liver.

17. Outline the three sequential steps of hemostasis.

    1) Vascular spasm (vasoconstriction), 2) formation of the platelet plug (primary hemostasis), 3) coagulation forming a fibrin clot (secondary hemostasis).

18. Which factor and enzyme convert fibrinogen to fibrin, and what stabilizes the clot?

    Thrombin (activated factor II) cleaves fibrinogen (factor I) to fibrin; factor XIIIa cross-links fibrin to stabilize the clot.

19. Contrast the intrinsic and extrinsic coagulation pathways and where they converge.

    The extrinsic pathway is triggered by tissue factor (factor III) and is rapid; the intrinsic pathway is triggered by contact activation (factor XII). Both converge at the common pathway activating factor X to Xa.

20. What enzyme dissolves clots, and how is it activated?

    Plasmin dissolves fibrin (fibrinolysis); it is formed from plasminogen by tissue plasminogen activator (tPA).

21. Distinguish innate from adaptive immunity.

    Innate immunity is rapid, non-specific, and lacks memory (barriers, phagocytes, complement, NK cells); adaptive immunity is slower, antigen-specific, and forms immunological memory (T and B lymphocytes).

22. Contrast humoral and cell-mediated adaptive immunity.

    Humoral immunity is mediated by B cells producing antibodies against extracellular pathogens; cell-mediated immunity is mediated by T cells (cytotoxic and helper) targeting intracellular pathogens and infected cells.

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