FM1003 Foundations of Medicine – GI, Nutritional and

metabolic biology.

Some Tips/Q&A!

Physiology

• Understanding is really key here.

• GOOD BOOKS: Costanzo’s Physiology (especially for secretions/absorption), Berne and Levy’s Principles of Physiology and Boron and Boulpaep’s Textbook of Medical Physiology (both of which are good for looking at things on a molecular level), Guyton (is ok).

Physiology

• Look at old exam questions.• Secretions are a popular

question so ensure that you are able to reproduce the diagrams. (Along with absorption, thryoid hormone regulation and GIT motility).

• Be accurate in your answers as you will be docked more for inaccuracies here!

• Keep things simple! I know some of this stuff seems a bit vague and is hard to get a handle on at first but once you grasp the core concept, all the weird looking transporters/arrows will make much more sense!!!

Biochemisty

• New lecturer! • Traditionally,

emphasis is usually on the clinical correlations in relation to the metabolic processes covered.

• Find out the types of questions that he plans on asking.

Biochemistry

• GOOD BOOKS: Baynes Medical Biochemistry (is okay in terms that it’s quite specific to medical students), Lehninger (is what your lecturer seems to be using so is probably the best companion – although be careful not to go into things in too much detail), Devlin’s Textbook of Biochemistry with Clinical Correlations (an alternative).

• In general, know the processes/cycles and the related diseases.

• Focus on your lecture notes

Anatomy

• Watch out for the pharynx/larynx area – it can get a little confusing!

• Know Fraher’s notes/DR notes really well!

• Use Gray’s Anatomy (She seems to be operating from it a little in terms of some of her questions)

• For histology, know the layers and linings! (Very clinically relevant)

Anatomy

• Focus in DR – if you make mistakes in the flag tests, learn from them. This is a good opportunity to familiarize yourself with the prosections for the exam.

• Studying anatomy is an art – you learn to filter all the theory and pick out the things you are more likely to be asked

• e.g. retroperitoneal structures, porto-systemic anastomoses, arterial supply, biliary tree, femoral region etc.

Retroperitoneal Structures

1. Duodenum (2nd, 3rd, 4th parts)2. Descending colon3. Ascending colon4. Kidney and ureters5. Pancreas (except tail)6. Aorta7. IVC8. Adrenal Glands9. Rectum

Femoral Region

• Organisation: Lateral to Medial:Nerve-Artery-Vein-Empty space-

Lymphatics (NAVEL)• Femoral triange: contains femoral vein,

artery, nerve• Femoral sheath: Fascial tube 3-4cm

below inguinal ligament. Contains femoral vein, artery and canal (deep inguinal lymph nodes) but NOT femoral nerve.

A Final Note….

• Your lecture notes are your first port of call (nearly) always.

• Ensure you leave yourself a day or 2 before the exam to get a look back over everything (especially for physiology)…even if it’s only for a few minutes.

• Keep things simple. It’s better to know a little about a lot than a lot about a little.

• Check out www.ucc.ie/medstud for resources and some cool new website links including www.medicalmneumonics.com!

And remember….

• “A good set of bowels is worth more to a man than any quantity of brains” – Josh Billings.