What this area covers
Pre-clinical medical science in Australian medical schools is assessed with written exams, often single best answer MCQs and short answers, plus practical or spot tests in anatomy. This page is for first and second year students and graduate-entry students who need the core science that clinical years build on.
High-yield topics
| Topic | What to know |
|---|---|
| Cardiovascular | Cardiac cycle, cardiac output, blood pressure control |
| Respiratory | Ventilation, gas exchange, oxygen transport |
| Renal | Filtration, tubular transport, water balance |
| Acid-base | Buffers and compensation |
| Endocrine | Feedback loops: thyroid, adrenal, insulin |
| Neuro and muscle | Action potentials, synapses, muscle contraction |
Worked example
Worked question · Renal
Where is most filtered sodium reabsorbed?
- A Proximal tubule
- B Loop of Henle, thick ascending limb
- C Distal convoluted tubule
- D Collecting duct principal cells
- E Glomerulus
Show the reasoning
Answer A. About two-thirds of filtered sodium and water is reabsorbed in the proximal tubule.
A short study plan
| Week | Focus |
|---|---|
| 1 | Cardiovascular and respiratory |
| 2 | Renal and acid-base |
| 3 | Endocrine, neuro and muscle |
Do a short timed set most days and review every explanation, including the options you ruled out.
Common traps
- Memorising without graphs.
- Confusing feedback loops.
- Skipping units in calculations.
Free sample physiology questions
Questions from our Basic Science bank. Choose your answer, then open the explanation.
According to the Frank-Starling mechanism, what happens when ventricular end-diastolic volume increases within the normal range?
- AAfterload decreases
- BHeart rate always falls
- CStroke volume increases
- DStroke volume falls
- EContractility is unchanged and output falls
Show answer and explanation
Answer C. Increased preload stretches myocardial fibres, optimising actin-myosin overlap and increasing the force of contraction and stroke volume. In heart failure the curve is flattened.
Learning point: Frank-Starling: more preload, more stroke volume (until the curve flattens).
Which change shifts the oxygen-haemoglobin dissociation curve to the right?
- ARaised temperature
- BIncreased fetal haemoglobin proportion
- CHypothermia
- DAlkalosis
- ELow 2,3-BPG
Show answer and explanation
Answer A. A right shift reduces haemoglobin affinity for oxygen, releasing more oxygen to tissues. Causes: increased CO2, acidosis (Bohr effect), raised temperature and increased 2,3-BPG. Fetal haemoglobin and alkalosis shift it left.
Learning point: Right shift (CADET face right): CO2, acid, 2,3-BPG, exercise, temperature.
Where is renin released from?
- AAdrenal cortex
- BPosterior pituitary gland
- CJuxtaglomerular cells
- DLungs
- ELiver
Show answer and explanation
Answer C. Renin is secreted by juxtaglomerular cells in response to low renal perfusion, sympathetic activity and low sodium at the macula densa. It converts angiotensinogen (from the liver) to angiotensin I, which ACE (mainly in the lungs) converts to angiotensin II.
Learning point: RAAS: renin from JG cells; angiotensinogen from liver; ACE mainly in lungs.
Practise more physiology questions free
Every physiology subtopic in our bank
The bank holds 15 physiology questions across 15 subtopics. You can filter by any of them, build a custom block and track your accuracy subtopic by subtopic.
- ADH action1
- Baroreceptor reflex1
- Calcium regulation1
- Cardiac action potential1
- Cortisol physiology1
- Frank-Starling mechanism1
- Gastric acid secretion1
- Glomerular filtration1
- Hormone of hypoglycaemia defence1
- Insulin effects1
- Lung compliance1
- Oxygen-haemoglobin dissociation1
- Renin-angiotensin system1
- Surfactant1
- Thyroid hormone regulation1
Common questions
How should I learn physiology?
Draw the key graphs and explain them aloud, then apply them to clinical scenarios.
Is acid-base pre-clinical?
The principles are taught early and used throughout clinical years.
Sources
Clinical content is summarised from current Australian guidance at the date above. Guidelines change, so always check the latest edition.
- Australian Medical Council: Graduate outcome statements
- Standard medical science texts