Study guides
Physiology
5 guides for this subject — how to prepare, what to practise, and how to know it has gone in.
A practice question
Choose an answer and it is marked, with the explanation. From Physiology Practice Questions: 10 Worked MCQs.
During the isovolumetric contraction phase of the left ventricular cardiac cycle, which change occurs?
Both valves are closed during isovolumetric contraction. Ventricular muscle is generating tension, so left ventricular pressure rises, but no blood enters or leaves and volume remains constant. The strongest distractor is that the aortic valve is open: it opens only when ventricular pressure exceeds aortic pressure, starting ejection.
A spoken answer, marked
An examiner's question, answered out loud and marked criterion by criterion. From Physiology Viva Questions: A Practical Oral Practice Guide.
Examiner
Why is the resting membrane potential of a typical neurone closer to the potassium equilibrium potential than to the sodium equilibrium potential?
The answer linked high resting potassium permeability to potassium efflux and a negative intracellular voltage.
ImproveState explicitly that the Goldman–Hodgkin–Katz relationship includes relative permeability, not concentration alone.
The distinction between Nernst and Goldman–Hodgkin–Katz was present, but the effect of increased extracellular potassium was not fully developed.
ImproveExplain that reducing the potassium gradient shifts the potassium equilibrium potential in a less negative direction.
The main conclusion came first and the sodium–potassium pump was correctly described as maintaining gradients.
ImproveAdd that the pump has a small direct electrogenic contribution but is not the main immediate voltage source.
A strong answerThe resting membrane potential is closer to the potassium equilibrium potential because resting potassium permeability is much greater than resting sodium permeability. Potassium diffuses out of the cell down its concentration gradient, leaving the cell interior negative, while the small sodium leak shifts the voltage away from the potassium equilibrium potential. The Goldman–Hodgkin–Katz equation accounts for both concentration gradients and relative permeabilities. The sodium–potassium pump maintains the gradients by moving three sodium ions out and two potassium ions in, with only a small direct electrogenic effect.
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Guides
- How to Study Physiology: A Practical Working MethodLearn how to study physiology with a structured method for mechanisms, equations, diagrams, flashcards, questions and spaced review.
- Physiology Study Plan: A Practical Six-Week MethodA practical physiology study plan with weekly sessions, revision priorities, question practice and a method for fixing weak topics.
- Physiology Flashcards: Build and Study a Useful DeckA practical method for making physiology flashcards that test mechanisms, equations and clinical interpretation rather than isolated definitions.
- Physiology Practice Questions: 10 Worked MCQsWork through 10 physiology practice questions on cardiac, renal, respiratory, endocrine and neural physiology with explanations and targeted revision.
- Physiology Viva Questions: A Practical Oral Practice GuidePractise physiology viva questions with a structured method, realistic stations, model answers and targeted feedback on mechanisms, calculations and interpretat
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