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Gross Anatomy:
Anatomy in the foundation module is quite simple and interesting. It includes an
overview of some important topics that you will be covering in later modules.
General concepts of bones, joints, blood vessels, lymphatics, nervous system, and
anatomical positions are some of the main topics included.
1) Recommended Books 📚
Standard Textbooks:
KLM Clinically Oriented Anatomy (8th Chapter 1: Overview and Basic
edition) Concepts
Review Books:
BRS Anatomy (11th edition): Chapter 1
I. Skeletal System II. Muscular System
III. Nervous System IV. Circulatory System
V. Integumentary System
2) Important Topics
⭐
⭐
Levels of organisation the human body, anatomical planes and positions
⭐
Bone development (ossification)
⭐
Muscles (Unipennate/Bipennate/Multipennate/Circumpennate)
⭐
The Lymphatic System
⭐
Classification of Synovial Joints & their Movement
⭐
Blood supply of Long bones, Cartilage, Muscles, and Blood Vessels
Nervous system (CNS, PNS, ANS)
3) Smart Sets to Save Time
● Anatomical terms of position and planes and movement
● Bones division function and ossification
● General concepts of muscles
● General concepts of joints
● Introduction to the nervous system and autonomic nervous system
● Introduction to lymphoid system
● Introduction to blood vessels
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4) Video Resources Commonly Used by Students*
● AnatomyZone
● The Noted Anatomist
5) Friendly Advice:
Foundation Module’s Anatomy can mostly be covered from Lecture Slides.
Anatomical planes and their respective terminologies can be covered by reading
through the initial pages of KLM.
You need to remember 2-3 examples for each joint (as frequently asked in vivas). It
is preferable not to waste your time memorising each type of joint as you will be
covering them in detail later during the locomotor module.
To cover CNS/PNS/ANS, you can watch “The Noted Anatomist” as the presenter
does a really good job summarising and simplifying information. A read of KLM on
this topic will further strengthen your concepts.
General Histology:
Histology is also a major subject in this module. Although this is a rather dry subject
to study from the textbooks, watching videos alongside can make it a little more
interesting.
1) Recommended Books 📚
Junqueira’s Basic Histology Text and Atlas (15th edition): A great resource to use
for histology. Covers all little details and explains concepts in a short and efficient
manner.
Chapter 1 Histology & Its Methods of Chapter 2 The Cytoplasm
Study
Chapter 3 The Nucleus Chapter 4 Epithelial Tissue
Chapter 5 Connective Tissue Chapter 6 Adipose Tissue
Chapter 10 Muscle Tissue Chapter 18 Skin
Laiq Hussain Medical Histology Text and Atlas (8th edition): A lovely alternative
book to cover all the histology chapters and to clarify and build solid foundations
for your concepts.
Chapter 1 Introduction Chapter 2 The Cell
Chapter 3 Epithelium Chapter 4 Glands
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Chapter 5 Connective Tissue Chapter 6 Connective Tissue
Proper
Chapter 10 Muscle Tissue Chapter 15 Integumentary System
2) Important Topics
Introduction to Microscopy and Cells ⭐
Cell Surface Modifications and Cell Junctions ⭐
Different Glands and Epithelia with examples ⭐
Histology of Skin⭐
Components of Connective Tissue and its Types ⭐
3) Smart Sets to Save Time:
● Microscopy and Staining Methods
● Cell structure surface modifications organelles and junctions
● Cytoskeleton and cell junctions
● Epithelium
● Glands and their types
● Connective tissue and its components and types
● Histological features of lymphoid system
4) Video Resources Commonly Used by Students*
● MBS MediLectures
● Dr. Najeeb Lectures (connective tissue, epithelium)
● Selfless Medicose
● Anatomy Hero (identification of slides)
5) Friendly Advice:
The best way to go about histology in this module is to make charts and tables to
memorise types of epithelium and glands with their examples, as they are very
important from an examination point of view. You can further grasp key histology
concepts by incorporating MedAngle Smart Summaries into your study routine.
Many people tend to ignore the first topic in histology - Introduction to microscopy
and cells. However, this topic tends to be assessed in your exams, so it would be
preferable that you at least skim through it. Remember the specific locations of
various cell surface modifications and cell junctions e.g; gap junctions in heart
myocytes, tight junctions in the blood-brain barrier, and so on.
Also, many students usually prefer reading through Laiq Hussain’s text supplemented
with pictures from Junqueira.
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General Embryology:
Embryology is extensive in this module, though it is very interesting if you go in a
flow. You will have to study the process of human development from the fertilisation
stage up until birth. Some topics such as fetal membranes, and events from the 9th
week onwards, may demand extensive memorization, but reading through all the
topics thoroughly would allow for better understanding.
1) Recommended Books 📚
The Developing Human; Clinically Langman’s Medical Embryology by
Oriented Embryology by Keith L. Moore T.W. Saddler (14th edition)
(11th edition)
Chapter 1 Introduction to Human Chapter 2 Gametogenesis:
Development Conversion of Germ
Cells into Male and
Female Gametes
Chapter 2 First Week of Human Chapter 3 First Week of
Development Development: Ovulation
to Implantation
Chapter 3 Second Week of Human Chapter 4 Second Week of
Development Development: Bilaminar
Germ Disc
Chapter 4 Third Week of Human Chapter 5 Third Week of
Development Development:
Trilaminar Germ Disc
Chapter 5 Fourth to Eighth Week of Chapter 6 Third to Eighth Weeks:
Human Development The Embryonic Period
Chapter 6 Fetal Period: Ninth Week to Chapter 8 Third Month to Birth:
Birth The Fetus and Placenta
Chapter Human Birth Defects Chapter 9 Birth Defects and
20 Prenatal Diagnosis
2) Important Topics
Developmental Week 1-3 ⭐
⭐
Birth Defects
⭐
Spermatogenesis
Oogenesis ⭐
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3) Smart Sets to Save Time
● Gametogenesis
● Fertilization
● Female reproductive cycle
● Fetal membranes and placenta
● Teratogenesis
● Birth defects and prenatal diagnosis
4) Video Resources Commonly Used by Students*
● Dr. Najeeb
● Brainless Medicose
● Life In The Womb Dr. Rose
● Ninja Nerd
● MBS MediLectures
● About Medicine
5) Friendly Advice:
Developmental weeks 1 to 3 are important for the exams, and should be studied
properly. It is recommended that you make notes for each week so that it would be
easier to revise later. To further strengthen your revision and remember crucial
details, you can use MedAngle Smart Summaries for each embryological week.
You can create mnemonics that can help with memorising the sequence of events
for weeks 4 to 8, and week 9 till birth. Fetal membranes and development of the
placenta can simply be covered from the lecture slides.
Physiology:
Physiology is a very simple subject in the foundation module.
1) Recommended Books 📚
Standard textbooks:
Guyton & Hall textbook of Medical Physiology (14th edition), is quite easy to
understand but very extensive.
Physiology by Linda Costanzo (6th edition) is much more conceptual and, more
importantly, concise.
2) Chapters to be Covered
For Guyton
Unit I Introduction to physiology: Chapters 1, 2 and 4
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1. Functional organisation of the human body and control of
internal environment
2. Cell and its functions
4. Transport of Substances through Cell Membranes
Unit V The Body fluids and Kidneys: Chapter 25
25. Body fluid and compartments
Unit XIV Introduction to Endocrinology: Chapter 75
75. Topic included: Mechanism of Action of Hormones
BRS Physiology
Chapter 1 Cell Physiology: Topics I to IV
I. Cell membranes
II. Transport across cell membranes
III. Osmosis
IV. Diffusion Potential, RMP and Action Potential
Chapter 5 Renal, and Acid-Base Physiology: Topic I
I. Body Fluids
3) Important Topics
Body fluid compartments ⭐
Transport across the cell membrane ⭐
Cell signalling mechanisms ⭐
4) Smart Sets to Save Time
● Homeostatic mechanism of the body
● Cell and its functions
● Extracellular and intracellular environment
● Transport of substances through cell membranes
● Membrane potentials and action potentials
● Cell signalling
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5) Video Resources Commonly Used by Students*
● Osmosis
● Ninja Nerd
● Dirty Medicine
6) Friendly Advice
Foundation module physiology is relatively easy. The values of body fluids and
factors affecting fluid balance should be remembered well. Transport across cell
membranes and cell signalling mechanisms are tested in every exam, so go through
these well.
Topics such as Composition and Function of Blood, Function of WBCs and
Physiology of Neurons can be easily covered through Lecture Slides.
Biochemistry:
Biochemistry is one of the harder subjects in the Foundation module. There are many
topics to cover but no single resource that covers all of these topics.
1) Recommended Books 📚
Standard textbooks:
Lippincott Illustrated Reviews Biochemistry (8th edition): Included topics are
written well in this book. Complement it with some videos to build good concepts.
MN Chatterjee (8th edition): You can refer to this book if you want to learn more
about any particular topic.
2) Chapters to be Covered
From Lippincott:
Chapter 1 Amino Acids
Chapter 2 Protein Structure
Chapter 5 Enzymes
From Chatterjee:
Chapter 1 Cell and Cell Organelles: Chapter 2 Biological
Chemistry and Functions Membranes:
Structure and
Function
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Chapter 3 Chemistry of Biomolecules Chapter 4 Chemistry of Lipids
Chapter 6 Chemistry of Proteins and Chapter 9 Chemistry of
Amino Acids Enzymes
Chapter 12 Vitamins
3) Important Topics
⭐
⭐
Enzymes
Minerals and Vitamins
4) Smart Sets to Save Time
● Water structure and cytosolic functions
● Buffers and pH
● Carbohydrates structure function and classification
● Proteins and amino acids structure function and classification
● Lipids and fatty acids structure function and classification
● Enzymes and their mechanism of action
● Classification and function of vitamins and minerals
● Bioenergetics and oxidative phosphorylation
5) Video Resources Commonly Used by Students*
● Ninja nerd
● AK Lectures
● Pixorize
6) Friendly Advice
A large proportion of biochemistry can be covered from only the lecture slides;
books often contain information on metabolic pathways of each nutrient which are
not needed at this stage. They will be covered in future modules. That said, the
structures, compositions, classifications, functions, and examples of each nutrient
type should be known.
Cover vitamins & minerals from tables in Lippincott. You can memorize them by
learning a few each day along with the diseases that may result from their
deficiencies.
Students tend to use Instant Biochemistry by Faiq Ahmad to cover most parts of
Foundation Module’s Biochemistry. However, one should remember that the book
may contain outdated information since it is not a standard textbook.
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Certain topics like Biochemical Aspects of Extracellular Matrix, Central Dogma,
and Types of mRNA can be covered through slides and video resources.
General Pharmacology:
Pharmacology is a minor subject in this module. It would be wise to cover this topic
directly from lecture slides. You will not need to use the pharmacology books all
throughout the first year.
1) Recommended Books 📚
● Katzung & Trevor’s Pharmacology Examination and Board Review (13th
edition)
● Lippincott Illustrated Reviews: Pharmacology (8th edition)
You can use either book, depending on your preference. The content and length
do not vary much between the books.
2) Chapters to be Covered
From Katzung: Basic Principles 1
Chapter 1 Introduction Chapter 2 Drug Receptors &
Pharmacodynamics
Chapter 3 Pharmacokinetics & Chapter 4 Drug Biotransformation
Pharmacodynamics
From Lippincott Pharmacology: Principles of Drug Therapy
Chapter 1 Pharmacokinetics Chapter 2 Drug-Receptor
Interactions and
Pharmacodynamics
3) Important Topics
⭐
⭐
Routes of administration of drugs
Factors Modifying the Drug Response
4) Smart Sets to Save Time
● Routes of administration of drugs
● Drug absorption and distribution
● Drug elimination
● Drug interactions
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● Drug receptors and pharmacodynamics
● Drug biotransformation
5) Video Resources Commonly Used by Students*
● Boards and Beyond
● Speed Pharmacology
● Dirty medicine
6) Friendly Advice
Since it is a subject for clinical years, you will only be covering the basics in this
module. Terminologies such as pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and
pharmacogenetics often appear in exam questions so a good understanding of these
is required.
General Pathology:
Pathology too is a minor subject in this module. You will be studying cell injury,
cellular adaptations, and cell death.
1) Recommended Books 📚
● Fundamentals of Pathology: Pathoma by Husain A. Sattar (2022 edition)
[Pathoma]: one of the best books for pathology. A combination of Pathoma
videos along with the text in chapter 1 of this book will get you through this
module.
● Robbins & Cotran Pathologic Basis Of Disease (10th edition) [Basis]: is a
good book as well; especially since it has a lot more details than Pathoma. So
if you have the time, then feel free to go through this book, especially through
the Cellular Accumulations section, blue boxes on key concepts, and green
boxes on morphology.
2) Chapters to be Covered
If you are using Basis If you are using Pathoma
Chapter 2 Cell Injury, Cell Death Chapter 1 Growth Adaptation, Cellular
and Adaptations Injury, Cell Death
3) Important Topics
Cell injury and cell death ⭐
Intracellular accumulations ⭐
Apoptosis ⭐
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4) Smart Sets to Save Time
● Cellular adaptations to stress
● Cell injury
● Cell death
● Intracellular accumulations
● Pathologic calcification
5) Video Resources Commonly Used by Students*
● Pathoma
6) Friendly Advice
As pathology includes only one topic, study it well. It is tested in both module and
annual examinations.
To avoid getting confused between similar terminologies, and to understand key
differences between them, consider using MedAngle Smart Summaries as a
concise and informative resource.
Microbiology:
A lot of us tend to leave this subject till the very end. However, it is advisable to
study it alongside the lectures. Some of the topics in this subject consist of new
content that you have likely never come across before, so leaving them till the very
end may lead to problems.
1) Recommended Books 📚
Review of Medical Microbiology & Immunology by Warren Levinson (17th edition)
[Levinson] is the only book you should go for. It has a great overview of bacterial
genetics, the growth of bacteria, and the pathogenesis of microorganisms.
2) Chapters to be Covered
From Levinson: Basic Bacteriology
Chapter 1 Bacteria Compared With Chapter 2 Structure of
Other Microorganisms Bacterial cells
Chapter 3 Growth Chapter 4 Genetics
Chapter 5 Classification of genetically Chapter 6 Normal Flora
important bacteria
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Chapter 7 Pathogenesis Chapter 15 Gram Positive Cocci
Chapter 16 Gram Negative Cocci Chapter 17 Gram Positive Rods
Basic Virology
Chapter 28 Structure
Chapter 29 Replication
Chapter 31 Classification of Medically Important Viruses
3) Important Topics
Classification and growth of bacteria ⭐
Pathogenesis of Microorganism ⭐
4) Smart Sets to Save Time
● Basic bacteriology
● Structure of bacterial cells
● Bacterial genetics
● Basic virology
5) Video Resources Commonly Used by Students*
● Medicosis perfectionalis
● Boards & Beyond
6) Friendly Advice
As Microbiology is a minor, covering it from Lecture Slides would be sufficient. The
pearl boxes given at the end of topics in Levinson are quite informative and good for
a quick read-through.
Student’s recommendations**
Gross Anatomy
BD Chaurasia’s Handbook of General Anatomy Chapters 1-9
(8th edition)
Biochemistry
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Instant Biochemistry By Faiq Ahmad (2nd Chapters 3-7
edition)
** These are non-standard textbooks that have been advised by other students. These books may
not help build your concepts and may consist of outdated information
Minors
● Safe to say that there is not much that needs to be studied from minor
subjects such as Community Medicine, Behavioural Science, Study Skills, and
Medical Ethics on a routine basis. These minors can be covered from lecture
slides right before the exam.
● A lot of students simply solve MedAngle questions on these subjects before
the exam for a quick run-through of all the topics.
Module Exam and Annual Examination:
● The foundation module exam will consist of multiple-choice and best-choice
questions and will be out of 100 marks. This is based on last year’s pattern.
● The module exam for D '28 consisted of subject-wise questions from ALL
subjects, so you should not ignore the minor subjects like community
medicine, and medical ethics when preparing.
Some last-minute tips and tricks:
● A lot of students seem to be confused about note-making. Although some
learn better by making notes, it does take a lot of time. You can always jot
down important stuff in a notebook, but it would be inadvisable to go about
copying all the information from every slide of each lecture as you will have
access to these lecture slides throughout the year.
● Anki is a great application for active recall. You can simply make your cards or
download premade decks. However, if you are having a hard time figuring out
how it works, then you could watch a few guides on YouTube. One such
channel for learning Anki is “TheAnking”. One thing to keep in mind is that you
have to stay consistent. Use it for topics that you feel you will forget easily
e.g., it can be quite confusing to remember the functions of all vitamins and
their deficiencies so you can make your cards on these and review them each
day.
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● Questions – evaluating oneself is extremely crucial to find out how well you
are studying. The best way to assess yourself is by solving questions. You can
solve questions at the end of chapters in some books such as BRS Physiology
or solve them on online question banks such as MedAngle. Online question
banks are preferable because they are more convenient to use.
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To access Smart Sets, Smart Summaries and multiple other features from the
MedAngle Smart Suite, check out “MedAngle for iOS, Android and iPadOS''.
To get access, sign up for the waitlist on this link now!
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* Please note that MedAngle has no affiliation with the quoted video resources. Therefore, we cannot
officially comment on the credibility of these resources.