Medical Sciences: practice problems and exam questions

Anatomy, physiology, microbiology and pharmacology: the basic and clinical sciences of the first years of medicine, as multiple-choice questions with explanations.

Practise this course for freePractise this courseTake a mock exam5 free problems every day. No card needed.

Cram pack (PDF)Formula sheets, method steps and practice problems with full solutions, ready to print.

Topics in this course

  1. Human anatomykey terms and facts · applying the concepts · cases and analysismultiple choice
  2. Human physiologykey terms and facts · applying the concepts · cases and analysismultiple choice
  3. Microbiologykey terms and facts · applying the concepts · cases and analysismultiple choice
  4. Pharmacologykey terms and facts · applying the concepts · cases and analysismultiple choice
  5. Arterial blood gas interpretationacid–base classification · compensation and expected values · mixed disorders and gas exchangecalculations
  6. ECG rhythm strip interpretationrate and intervals · QT and rhythm recognition · heart blocks and ventricular rhythmscalculations
  7. Evidence-based practice statistics2 × 2 tables, prevalence and incidence · likelihood ratios, risk measures and rates · predictive values, post-test probability and NNTcalculations

Exam tips for Medical Sciences

  • Connect basic science to the clinic: ask what goes wrong when a structure fails.
  • For microbiology, learn organisms by group, such as Gram-positive and Gram-negative.
  • Eliminate the options you know are wrong before you choose.

Worked examples

Human anatomyEasy

Which flap of tissue covers the entrance to the larynx during swallowing?

  1. AUvula
  2. BVocal cords
  3. CSoft palate
  4. DEpiglottis
Show hints
  1. It is a leaf-shaped flap of elastic cartilage behind the root of the tongue.
  2. Two wrong answers are now crossed out. One of the remaining two is right.
Show the answer and explanation

Why this is the answer

The epiglottis folds back over the laryngeal inlet when you swallow, guiding food into the oesophagus instead of the airway.

Answer

D · Epiglottis
Human physiologyMedium

Which protein forms the mesh that stabilises a blood clot?

  1. ACollagen
  2. BAlbumin
  3. CFibrin
  4. DThrombin
Show hints
  1. Thrombin makes it from a soluble plasma precursor.
  2. Two wrong answers are now crossed out. One of the remaining two is right.
Show the answer and explanation

Why this is the answer

Thrombin converts soluble fibrinogen into insoluble fibrin strands, which bind the platelet plug and trap red cells to form a stable clot.

Answer

C · Fibrin

How practising works

  • “Practise this course” mixes problems from all its topics, like a real exam.
  • Every problem has new values, so you learn the method instead of an answer.
  • Stuck? Open a small hint first, and the full explanation only when you need it.
  • Mock exams are timed and have no hints, and you get your score and a full review at the end.

Calculators for this course

Creatinine clearance calculator (Cockcroft–Gault)QTc calculator (Bazett, Fridericia and Framingham)ECG heart rate calculator (300, 1500 and 6-second methods)Sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV calculator (2×2 table)NNT calculator (number needed to treat, ARR, RRR)Anion gap calculator (albumin-corrected, delta ratio)

Related courses

NCLEX-style practice questions (RN)Anatomy and PhysiologyNursing Fundamentals and Clinical PracticeECG InterpretationMedical-Surgical NursingTEAS-style practice questions (all four sections)TEAS-style science practiceHESI A2-style practice: math, English, A&P, biology and chemistry
Practise this course for freePractise this courseTake a mock exam5 free problems every day. No card needed.