ESSENTIAL REVISION NOTES FOR MRCS

Paper 1
Applied Surgical Anatomy 45 questions. This includes gross anatomy as well as questions on
developmental and imaging anatomy.

Topic

Number of questions

Thorax

Abdomen, pelvis, perineum

12

Upper limb, breast

Lower limb

Head, neck and spine

Central, peripheral and autonomic nervous systems

Physiology 45 questions.
This includes 12 questions on general physiological principles covering thermoregulation,
metabolic pathways, sepsis and septic shock, fluid balance, metabolic acidosis/alkalosis and
colloid and crystalloid solutions.
System-specific physiology:

Topic

Number of questions

Respiratory system

Cardiovascular system

Gastrointestinal system

Renal system

Endocrine system (including glucose homeostasis)

MRCS STUDY PLAN // TONI HABIB

Page 2

Nervous system

Thyroid and parathyroid

Pathology

45 questions. This includes 2022 questions on general principles of pathology.

Topic

Number of questions

Inflammation

Wound healing and cellular healing

12

Vascular disorders

Disorders of growth

Tumours

Surgical immunology

Surgical haematology

12

MRCS STUDY PLAN // TONI HABIB

Page 3

System-specific pathology (2226 questions):

Topic

Number of questions

Nervous system

12

Musculoskeletal system

Respiratory system

12

Breast disorders

Endocrine systems

12

Genitourinary system

Gastrointestinal system

Lymphoreticular system

12

Cardiovascular system

Paper 2
Clinical Problem Solving 135 questions. This includes 45 questions on
Principles of Surgery-in-General
and 90 questions on Surgical Specialties:

Principles of Surgery-in-General

Topic

Number of questions

Perioperative care

Postoperative care

Surgical techniques

MRCS STUDY PLAN // TONI HABIB

Page 4

Management/legal topics

Microbiology

Emergency medicine

Oncology

Surgical Specialties Topic

Number of questions

Cardiothoracic

Abdominal

Upper gastrointestinal

45

Hepatobilary and pancreatic

Colorectal

Breast

45

Endocrine

Vascular

Transplant

ENT

Oromaxillofacial

Paediatrics

Neurosurgery

Trauma/orthopaedics

7-8

Plastics

Urology

It is therefore important that you cover the entire syllabus in order to pick up the greatest
number of marks

MRCS STUDY PLAN // TONI HABIB

Page 5

first month
First week

Second week

Third week

Fourth week

Applied Surgical Anatomy A

Upper limb
Lower limb
Thorax
Applied Surgical Anatomy B
Head and neck
Abdomen and pelvis
Nervous system
general physiological principles
thermoregulation
, metabolic pathways
sepsis and septic shock
fluid balance
metabolic acidosis/alkalosis
colloid and crystalloid solutions.
Physiology specialties
Respiratory system
Cardiovascular system
Gastrointestinal system
Renal system
Endocrine system
Nervous system
Thyroid and parathyroid

MRCS STUDY PLAN // TONI HABIB

Page 6

Second month
First week

General pathology
Inflammation
Wound healing and cellular healing
Vascular disorders
Disorders of growth
Tumours
Surgical immunology
Surgical haematology

Second week

System-specific pathology
Nervous system
Musculoskeletal system
Respiratory system
Breast disorders
Endocrine systems
Genitourinary system
Gastrointestinal system
Lymphoreticular system
Cardiovascular system
GIT surgery :
Abdominal wall
upper git
GIT surgery:
hepatobilary and pancreatic
Colorectal

Third week
Fourth week

MRCS STUDY PLAN // TONI HABIB

Page 7

Third month
First week
Second week

Third week
Fourth week

Trauma and orthopedic surgery

Principles of Surgery-in-General
Perioperative care
Postoperative care
Surgical techniques
Management/legal topic
Microbiology
Emergency medicine
Oncology
Pediatrics
plastic
and vascular surgery
Urology
Endocrine
breast
and cardiothoracic surgery

Fourth month REVISION

First week
Second week
Third week
Fourth week

Basic sciences review with questions

General surgery
Surgical specialties
Last revision

MRCS STUDY PLAN // TONI HABIB

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