BSMS Years 1 and 2 Cheat Sheet
Every module of Years 1 and 2 at Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS), with the SimpleMed articles that cover it. Find your module, open the articles, revise.
- 2 years
- 10 units
- 356 SimpleMed articles
Independent guide, not endorsed by Brighton and Sussex Medical School. About this page
Year 1, Terms 1 to 3
Year 1 Knowledge TestFoundations of Health and Disease
84 articles
How the body is built and works from cells and genes up to tissues and organs, plus first ideas about disease, infection and immunity, and study skills.
Anatomy and histology (histology: the study of tissues under the microscope)
- Anatomical Terms
- Basics of Bone Anatomy
- Structure of Bones
- Joints
- Structure of the Muscles
- Cartilage: Structure, Growth and Repair
- Connective Tissue
- How to Read a Histology Slide
- Epithelium, Skin and Exocrine Glands
- Basics of Embryology
- Cells and Components of the Nervous System
Cellular and molecular biology
- Action Potentials
- Autonomic Nervous System Introduction
- Biological Membranes
- Enzyme-linked and Intracellular Receptor Signalling
- Enzymes and Regulation of Protein Function
- G-Protein Coupled Receptors
- Introduction to DNA
- Introduction to the Cell
- Membrane Potentials
- Membrane Transport and Intracellular Calcium Regulation
- Molecular Techniques for Medics
- Post-translational Modification and Collagen Biosynthesis
- Protein Function in Oxygen Transport
- Protein Targeting
- Structure of Proteins
- The Cell Cycle, Checkpoints and Apoptosis
- DNA Repair and Cancer
- Epigenetics, Genomic Imprinting and Mitochondrial Inheritance
- Gene Expression
- Genetic Testing and Counselling
- Genotype, Phenotype, and Inheritance
- Introduction to Gene Mutation
- Mitosis and Meiosis
Cellular pathology and physiology
- Acute Inflammation
- An Introduction to Pathology
- Atherosclerosis
- Basics of Pathology
- Behaviour of Neoplasms
- Cellular Adaptations
- Chronic Inflammation
- Haemostasis and Clotting
- Introduction to Neoplasia
- Pathogenesis of Neoplasms
- Regeneration and Repair of Tissues
- The Lymphatic System
- Thrombosis and Embolism
- Temperature Regulation
- Oxidative Stress
- Cancer Chemotherapy
Immunology and infection
- Adaptive Immunity
- An Introduction to Infection
- Antibiotics
- Bacterial Structure, Classification and Growth
- Biofilms
- Fungi and Parasites: The Eukaryotic Pathogens
- Gram Staining and Infection Investigations
- Gram-negative Bacteria: Structure, Entry Routes and Endotoxin
- Hepatitis
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
- Innate Immunity
- Principles of Medical Virology
- Sepsis
- Staphylococci and Other Gram-positive Bacteria
- Streptococci
- The Immunocompromised Host
- The Infection Model
- The Organisms Gram Staining Misses
- Travel-related Infections
- Food Allergy
- Hypersensitivity Reactions
- Immunological Therapies
- Introduction to Autoimmunity
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
- Type 1 Hypersensitivity
- Antibiotics
- Antivirals
How drugs work
Academic skills
Practice questions on SimpleMed+: Cell Physiology and Biology, Genetics, Pathology, Infection
Heart Lungs and Blood
61 articles
The cardiovascular, respiratory and blood systems from structure to disease and treatment, including how lifestyle alters risk and how clinicians support behaviour change.
Cardiovascular system
- Acute Coronary Syndrome
- Anatomy of the Cardiovascular System
- Artery and Vein Disease
- Cardiac Conduction and Contraction
- Cardiovascular Drugs
- Congenital Heart Defects
- Control of Cardiac Output
- Electrocardiogram Pathology
- Electrocardiograms
- Embryological Development of the CVS (CVS: the cardiovascular system)
- Haemodynamic Shock
- Heart Failure
- Hypertension
- Murmurs
- Pulses and Pressures
- Special Circulations
- The Cardiac Cycle
Respiratory system
- Anatomy of the Respiratory System
- Asthma
- Bronchiectasis and Cystic Fibrosis
- Carbon Dioxide Transport
- Chemical Control of Breathing and Plasma pH
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
- Development of the Respiratory System
- Lung Cancer
- Lung Function Testing
- Pneumonia and other Lower Respiratory Tract Infections
- Pneumothorax and Pleural Effusion
- Properties of Gas Exchange
- Pulmonary Embolism
- Respiratory Failure
- Tuberculosis
- Ventilation and Lung Mechanics
Blood
- Anaemia
- Blood Groups, Crossmatching and Transfusion Reactions
- Full Blood Count
- Haematology in Systemic Disease
- Haematopoiesis and the Spleen
- Haemoglobinopathies
- Iron Metabolism
- Vitamin B12 and Folate
- When Haematopoiesis Goes Wrong
Pathobiology (the biology of how disease develops)
Therapeutics
- Hypertension and Heart Failure
- Cardiac Arrhythmias
- Antiplatelets, Anticoagulants and Thrombolysis
- Hyperlipidaemias
- Pharmacology of Airway Control
- Diuretics and Renal Pharmacology
Lifestyle and prevention
Examination guides
- Blood Pressure Measurement OSCE Guide
- Cardiovascular System OSCE Examination
- Peripheral Vascular OSCE Examination
- Varicose Vein OSCE Examination
- Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) OSCE Examination
- Respiratory System OSCE Examination
Practice questions on SimpleMed+: Cardiovascular System, Respiratory System, Haematology
Nutrition, Metabolism and Excretion
65 articles
The gut, liver and kidneys: how food is digested and turned into energy, how waste and foreign substances are cleared, and what goes wrong.
Alimentary system
- Abdominal Wall and Inguinal Canal
- Anatomy and Physiology of the Foregut
- Anatomy and Physiology of the Hindgut
- Anatomy and Physiology of the Midgut
- Development of the Gastrointestinal Tract
- Distal Gastrointestinal Tract Pathology
- Gastroenteritis and Enterocolitis
- Gastrointestinal Emergencies
- Gastrointestinal Malignancy
- Gastrointestinal Motility and the Enteric Nervous System
- Gastrointestinal Secretion, Digestion and Absorption
- Hepatic, Biliary and Pancreatic Pathology
- Intestinal Pathology
- Liver, Biliary and Exocrine Pancreatic Physiology
- Upper Gastrointestinal Tract Pathology
Excretory system
- Acute Kidney Injury
- Anatomy of the Kidneys, Bladder and Urethra
- Chronic Kidney Disease
- Control of Plasma Osmolarity
- Control of Plasma Volume
- Control of Potassium
- Development of the Urinary System
- Diabetic Nephropathy
- Diuretics
- Glomerular Disease
- Glomerular Filtration Rate and the Measurement of Kidney Function
- Hyponatraemia
- Male Urological Conditions
- Micturition
- Prostate Pathology
- The Glomerulus: Tubular Reabsorption and Secretion
- The Nephron
- Urinary Incontinence
- Urinary Tract Infections
- Urinary Tract Obstruction
- Urological Malignancy
Nutrition and metabolism
- Alcohol Metabolism
- Dietary Energy Production
- Energy Reactions in Cells
- Energy Storage
- Glycolysis
- Inborn Errors of Metabolism and Newborn Screening
- Lipid Metabolism and Transport
- Metabolic and Endocrine Regulation
- Nutrition, Diet and Body Weight
- Oxidative Stress
- Oxygen-dependent Pathway
- Protein and Amino Acid Metabolism
- Purine and Pyrimidine Metabolism
- Temperature Regulation
- Vitamins, Cofactors, Minerals and Trace Elements
Diabetes and appetite
Liver and infection
Handling drugs and poisons
- Drugs Affecting Acid Secretion
- Antiemetics and Laxatives
- Diuretics and Renal Pharmacology
- Pharmacology of Insulin
- Poisoning and STOPP/START (STOPP/START: screening tools that spot potentially inappropriate and missing prescriptions in older people)
- Pharmacokinetics
Examination guides
Practice questions on SimpleMed+: Gastrointestinal System, Urinary System, Metabolism
Clinical and Community Practice 1
15 articles
Preparing for clinical settings: team working, public health, the wider influences on health, and your first practical skills with patients.
Public health and the community
- Introduction to Population Science
- Population and Social Science Summary
- Epidemiological Studies
- Child Immunisations
- Travel-related Infections
- Health Economics
- Models of Health
Patients and safety
First clinical skills
- Index Conditions for OSCE exams
- Blood Pressure Measurement OSCE Guide
- Venepuncture and Blood Cultures OSCE Guide
Practice questions on SimpleMed+: Population and Social Science, Patient-Centred Care
Year 2, Terms 1 to 3
Year 2 Knowledge TestBrain, Body and Mind
62 articles
How the nervous system is built and works, from sensory and motor pathways to pain and memory. It also covers common neurological and psychiatric (mental health) conditions and the drugs that act on the brain.
Nervous system structure and function
- Basics of Neuroanatomy
- Cells and Components of the Nervous System
- Development of the Nervous System
- Arterial Supply to the Brain
- Production and Circulation of CSF and Related Disorders
- The Meninges
- Somatosensory System
- Motor System
- The Cerebellum: Circuits, Coordination and Clinical Signs
- Reticular Formation
- The Hypothalamus and Limbic System
- Higher Cortical Function
- Autonomic Nervous System Introduction
- Membrane Potentials
- Action Potentials
Cranial nerves and special senses
- Anatomy of the Ear
- Autonomics of the Head and Neck
- Blood Supply to the Head and Neck
- Cranial Nerves I-VI
- Cranial Nerves VII-XII
- Development of the Head and Neck
- Ear Pathology
- Fascial Planes, Muscles and Triangles
- Head and Neck Cancers
- Imaging of the Head and Neck
- Introduction to Head & Neck Anatomy
- Lymph Nodes and Neck Lumps
- The Eye
- The Larynx
- The Nose
- The Oral Cavity and Pharynx
- The Skull
- The Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ)
- Visual System
- Auditory and Vestibular Systems
Neurological disease
- Stroke
- Subarachnoid Haemorrhage
- Raised Intracranial Pressure
- Headaches
- Movement Disorders
- Infections of the Central Nervous System
- Epilepsy and Anti-epileptic Drugs
- Parkinson's Disease and Myasthenia Gravis
Mind and psychiatry
Drugs and the nervous system
- Introduction to Psychopharmacology
- Opioids
- Anaesthetics
- Cholinergic Pharmacology
- Adrenergic Pharmacology
- Alcohol Metabolism
Examination guides
- Cranial Nerve OSCE Examination
- Upper Limb Neurological OSCE Examination
- Lower Limb Neurological OSCE Examination
- Cerebellar OSCE Examination
- Eye and Vision OSCE Examination
- Visual Acuity OSCE Assessment
- Fundoscopy (Ophthalmoscopy) OSCE Examination
- Ear, Otoscopy and Hearing OSCE Examination
Practice questions on SimpleMed+: Neuroanatomy and Psychiatry, Head and Neck, Pharmacology
Musculoskeletal and Immune Systems
62 articles
The bones, joints and muscles of the back and limbs, and their injuries and diseases. It also covers how the immune system defends the body, what happens when it fails, why it rejects transplants and how it fights tumours.
Bones, joints and muscles
- Anatomical Terms
- Basics of Bone Anatomy
- Structure of Bones
- Cartilage: Structure, Growth and Repair
- Connective Tissue
- Joints
- Structure of the Muscles
- Muscles in Action
- Development of the Limbs and Body Wall
- Dermatomes and Myotomes
Upper limb
- Bones of the Upper Limb
- Bones of the Hand
- Key Areas of the Upper Limb
- Muscles of the Shoulder
- Muscles of the Upper Arm
- Muscles of the Forearm
- The Brachial Plexus
- Conditions of the Shoulder and Clavicle
- Conditions of the Arm
- Conditions of the Elbow
- Conditions of the Wrist
- Conditions of the Hand
Lower limb
- Bones of the Lower Limb
- Bones of the Foot
- Key Areas of the Lower Limb
- Muscles of the Gluteal Region
- Muscles of the Thigh
- Muscles of the Lower Leg
- The Lumbar Plexus
- The Sacral Plexus
- Conditions of the Hip
- Conditions of the Thigh
- Conditions of the Knee
- Conditions of the Lower Leg
- Conditions of the Ankle
- Conditions of the Foot
Back and neck
Immune system
- Food Allergy
- Hypersensitivity Reactions
- Immunological Therapies
- Introduction to Autoimmunity
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
- Type 1 Hypersensitivity
- Innate Immunity
- Adaptive Immunity
- The Lymphatic System
- The Immunocompromised Host
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
Transplantation and immune therapy
- Blood Groups, Crossmatching and Transfusion Reactions
- Immunosuppression and Disease-modifying Therapy
- NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)
Examination guides
- GALS Screening OSCE Examination (GALS: gait, arms, legs, spine)
- Shoulder OSCE Examination
- Elbow OSCE Examination
- Hand and Wrist OSCE Examination
- Hip OSCE Examination
- Knee OSCE Examination
- Ankle and Foot OSCE Examination
- Spine OSCE Examination
Practice questions on SimpleMed+: Musculoskeletal System, Immunology
Reproduction and Endocrinology
43 articles
The male and female reproductive tracts, development, pregnancy, fertility and gynaecological (female reproductive system) cancer, alongside the hormones that control growth, metabolism and reproduction.
Reproductive anatomy and physiology
- Anatomy of the Woman
- Anatomy of the Man
- The Pelvic Floor
- Development of the Reproductive System
- Gametogenesis
- Puberty
- The Menstrual Cycle and Menstrual Abnormalities
- Sex, Infertility and Contraception
Pregnancy and the fetus
- The Placenta
- Physiology of the Mother
- Physiology of the Fetus
- Diseases of the Mother in Pregnancy
- Labour and Delivery
- The Postpartum Period
- Teratology and Congenital Malformations
- Basics of Embryology
Infection, cancer and breast disease
- Infections of the Reproductive Tract
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
- Malignancies of the Reproductive Tract
- Introduction to the Breast
- Benign Conditions of the Breast
- Malignant Breast Disease
- The Menopause
Endocrine system
- An Introduction to Endocrinology
- Calcium Metabolism
- Control of Appetite
- Diabetes Mellitus
- HPA and Growth Hormone (HPA here is the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, not the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis)
- Pituitary Disorders
- The Adrenal Glands and Adrenal Disorders
- The Endocrine Pancreas
- The Thyroid Gland
Genetics and prescribing
- Genetic Testing and Counselling
- Epigenetics, Genomic Imprinting and Mitochondrial Inheritance
- Reproductive and Post-reproductive Health
- Pharmacology of Insulin
- Men's Health
Examination guides
- Breast OSCE Examination
- Testicular OSCE Examination
- Thyroid Status OSCE Examination
- Cushing's Syndrome OSCE Examination
- Acromegaly OSCE Examination
- Diabetic Foot OSCE Examination
Practice questions on SimpleMed+: Reproductive System, Endocrinology, Embryology
Clinical and Community Practice 2
24 articles
Builds on Year 1: the health of communities and populations, clinical and communication skills, the wider team and care across the life cycle.
Population health
- Beliefs of the Public
- Describing Data and Testing Hypotheses
- Epidemiological Studies
- Evidence-Based Practice
- Health Economics
- Introduction to Population Science
- Models of Health
- Patient Safety and Quality Control
- Population and Social Science Summary
The life cycle and patient care
- Ageing
- Child Immunisations
- Child Safeguarding
- Falls
- Lifestyle Medicine
- Men's Health
- Palliative Care
- Sepsis in Paediatrics
Safe prescribing
- Safe Prescribing
- Poisoning and STOPP/START (STOPP/START: screening tools that spot potentially inappropriate and missing prescriptions in older people)
- Pharmacovigilance and Pharmacogenetics
Acutely unwell patients
Practice questions on SimpleMed+: Population and Social Science, Patient-Centred Care, Pharmacology
Throughout Years 1 and 2
Clinical skills and placements
44 articles
Runs through both years: history taking, examinations and communication, in class and on placements. These guides take you through each examination step by step.
Browse every examination guide on the SimpleMed OSCE hub
Start here
- Index Conditions for OSCE exams
- Blood Pressure Measurement OSCE Guide
- Venepuncture and Blood Cultures OSCE Guide
Heart, lungs and circulation
- Cardiovascular System OSCE Examination
- Respiratory System OSCE Examination
- Peripheral Vascular OSCE Examination
- Varicose Vein OSCE Examination
- Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) OSCE Examination
Abdomen and groin
- Abdominal OSCE Examination
- Rectal (PR) OSCE Examination
- Stoma OSCE Examination
- Hernia OSCE Examination
- Testicular OSCE Examination
Nervous system
- Cranial Nerve OSCE Examination
- Upper Limb Neurological OSCE Examination
- Lower Limb Neurological OSCE Examination
- Cerebellar OSCE Examination
Joints and spine
- GALS Screening OSCE Examination (GALS: gait, arms, legs, spine)
- Shoulder OSCE Examination
- Elbow OSCE Examination
- Hand and Wrist OSCE Examination
- Hip OSCE Examination
- Knee OSCE Examination
- Ankle and Foot OSCE Examination
- Spine OSCE Examination
Endocrine
- Thyroid Status OSCE Examination
- Diabetic Foot OSCE Examination
- Cushing's Syndrome OSCE Examination
- Acromegaly OSCE Examination
Eyes, ears, nose and neck
- Eye and Vision OSCE Examination
- Visual Acuity OSCE Assessment
- Fundoscopy (Ophthalmoscopy) OSCE Examination
- Anterior Segment Eye OSCE Examination
- Ear, Otoscopy and Hearing OSCE Examination
- Nasal OSCE Examination
- Neck Lump OSCE Examination
Skin, breast and lymph nodes
- Pigmented Skin Lesion OSCE Examination
- Rash and Non-Pigmented Skin Lesion OSCE Examination
- Breast OSCE Examination
- Lymphoreticular OSCE Examination
Surface anatomy
Practice questions on SimpleMed+: OSCE, Patient-Centred Care
Personal and Professional Development
10 articles
A theme through the course: the values and behaviour of a doctor, inequality and inclusion, ageing, law and ethics, and looking after yourself and your team.
Population and Social Science
- Beliefs of the Public
- Models of Health
- Patient Safety and Quality Control
- Health Economics
- Evidence-Based Practice
Patient-Centred Care
Practice questions on SimpleMed+: Population and Social Science, Patient-Centred Care
How BSMS assesses Years 1 and 2
- Each year ends with a two-day integrated Knowledge Test. Questions are split equally between that year's systems modules: Year 1 has two (Heart Lungs and Blood; Nutrition, Metabolism and Excretion) and Year 2 has three.
- Knowledge Tests fall in the summer term, with resits in August. Each year is one section here, with one integrated Knowledge Test at the end of it.
- Coursework (essays, an IT test, a presentation, a poster, logbooks), student-selected components (individual studies on topics you choose) and a Year 2 OSCE also count towards your marks.
- BSMS publishes the official dates and formats. Always check your own course materials.
Test yourself
Reading is half of revision. Each unit above links to matching single best answer questions on SimpleMed+.
SimpleMed+ Encyclopaedia
Hard topics, made short and simple
A free bank of short and simple explanations of complex topics, with memory aids, in bitesize pages. Each one links to the SimpleMed+ questions that test it and to the core knowledge your exams expect.
- Bitesize explanations
- Memory aids
- Linked to the question bank
Getting ready for clinical
Years 3 to 5 are the main clinical years, spent on placements in hospitals and general practice. Clinical teaching starts in Years 1 and 2 too.
An independent revision guide by SimpleMed, not endorsed by or affiliated with Brighton and Sussex Medical School or the Universities of Brighton and Sussex. Module names follow BSMS's published course pages, except Clinical skills and placements, which is our own heading for the clinical teaching that runs through both years. BSMS publishes no topic lists, so the grouping inside each module is ours; check your official materials. Last updated October 2026. Some articles appear under more than one unit, so the unit counts add up to more than the 356 total.
