Brunel Medical School Phase 1 Cheat Sheet
Every module of Brunel's Phase 1 (Years 1 and 2), with the SimpleMed articles that cover it. Find your module, open the articles, revise.
- 2 years
- 17 units
- 356 different SimpleMed articles
Independent guide, not endorsed by Brunel Medical School. About this page
Year 1, Whole year
Year 1 assessmentsIntroduction to Medical Sciences 1: foundations and anatomy (IMS 1)
53 articles
Cells, molecules, genes, tissues and the body plan, plus head and neck anatomy.
Cells and molecules
- 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
Genes and inheritance
- 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
Tissues and the body plan
- 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
Head and neck anatomy
- 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 Meninges
- The Nose
- The Oral Cavity and Pharynx
- The Skull
- The Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ)
Practice questions on SimpleMed+: Cell Physiology and Biology, Genetics, Head and Neck
Introduction to Medical Sciences 1: cardiovascular system (IMS 1)
27 articles
How the heart and vessels are built and controlled, how we investigate them, and common heart and circulation disease.
Structure and function
- Anatomy of the Cardiovascular System
- Embryological Development of the CVS (CVS stands for cardiovascular system)
- The Cardiac Cycle
- Cardiac Conduction and Contraction
- Control of Cardiac Output
- Pulses and Pressures
- Special Circulations
Investigations and disease
- Electrocardiograms
- Electrocardiogram Pathology
- Murmurs
- Hypertension
- Atherosclerosis
- Acute Coronary Syndrome
- Heart Failure
- Artery and Vein Disease
- Congenital Heart Defects
- Haemodynamic Shock
Drugs
- Cardiovascular Drugs
- Hypertension and Heart Failure
- Cardiac Arrhythmias
- Antiplatelets, Anticoagulants and Thrombolysis
- Hyperlipidaemias
Examination guides
Introduction to Medical Sciences 1: respiratory system (IMS 1)
19 articles
The respiratory system from molecules to organs: breathing, gas exchange, lung function tests and common lung disease.
Structure and function
- Anatomy of the Respiratory System
- Development of the Respiratory System
- Ventilation and Lung Mechanics
- Properties of Gas Exchange
- Carbon Dioxide Transport
- Chemical Control of Breathing and Plasma pH
- Lung Function Testing
- Protein Function in Oxygen Transport
Disease
- Asthma
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
- Pneumonia and other Lower Respiratory Tract Infections
- Tuberculosis
- Bronchiectasis and Cystic Fibrosis
- Pneumothorax and Pleural Effusion
- Pulmonary Embolism
- Lung Cancer
- Respiratory Failure
Drugs and examination
Introduction to Medical Sciences 1: hormones (IMS 1)
18 articles
The hormones that control growth, metabolism and calcium, how they are regulated, and how diabetes and thyroid disease arise.
Endocrine system
- An Introduction to Endocrinology
- Calcium Metabolism
- Control of Appetite
- Diabetes Mellitus
- HPA and Growth Hormone (HPA here means the hypothalamic-pituitary axis)
- Pituitary Disorders
- The Adrenal Glands and Adrenal Disorders
- The Endocrine Pancreas
- The Thyroid Gland
Signalling and regulation
- Metabolic and Endocrine Regulation
- G-Protein Coupled Receptors
- Enzyme-linked and Intracellular Receptor Signalling
- Temperature Regulation
Drugs and examination
- Pharmacology of Insulin
- Thyroid Status OSCE Examination
- Diabetic Foot OSCE Examination
- Cushing's Syndrome OSCE Examination
- Acromegaly OSCE Examination
Practice questions on SimpleMed+: Endocrinology, Metabolism
Introduction to Medical Sciences 1: renal system and excretion (IMS 1)
22 articles
How the kidneys filter blood and balance water, salts and acid, how kidney function is measured, and kidney and urinary disease.
Urinary 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
From other subjects
Introduction to Medical Sciences 1: limbs, joints and movement (IMS 1)
49 articles
The bones, joints, muscles and nerves of the limbs and spine, learnt through common injuries and conditions.
Foundations
- 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
Joint disease and drugs
Examination guides
Year 2, Whole year
Year 2 assessmentsIntroduction to Medical Sciences 2: disease and diagnosis (IMS 2)
34 articles
The processes behind most disease, such as inflammation, repair, thrombosis and cancer, and the blood and genetic tests used to diagnose disease.
Core disease processes
- Acute Inflammation
- An Introduction to Pathology
- Atherosclerosis
- Basics of Pathology
- Behaviour of Neoplasms
- Cellular Adaptations
- Chronic Inflammation
- Epithelium, Skin and Exocrine Glands
- Haemostasis and Clotting
- How to Read a Histology Slide
- Introduction to Neoplasia
- Pathogenesis of Neoplasms
- Regeneration and Repair of Tissues
- The Lymphatic System
- Thrombosis and Embolism
Blood and diagnosis
- Anaemia
- Blood Groups, Crossmatching and Transfusion Reactions
- Full Blood Count
- Haematology in Systemic Disease
- Haematopoiesis and the Spleen
- Haemoglobinopathies (inherited disorders of haemoglobin, such as sickle cell disease)
- Iron Metabolism
- Vitamin B12 and Folate
- When Haematopoiesis Goes Wrong
Genes and cancer
- DNA Repair and Cancer
- Introduction to Gene Mutation
- Genetic Testing and Counselling
- Cancer Chemotherapy
- Teratology and Congenital Malformations (teratology is the study of what causes birth defects)
- Oxidative Stress
- Molecular Techniques for Medics
Investigations
Practice questions on SimpleMed+: Pathology, Haematology, Genetics
Introduction to Medical Sciences 2: infection and immunity (IMS 2)
30 articles
The main bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites, how the immune system responds, and how infection is treated.
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
Immunology
- Food Allergy
- Hypersensitivity Reactions
- Immunological Therapies
- Introduction to Autoimmunity
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
- Type 1 Hypersensitivity
From other subjects
Practice questions on SimpleMed+: Infection, Immunology
Pharmacology
29 articles
How the main drug classes work, how drugs move through the body, and how to prescribe and monitor them safely.
Pharmacology
- Adrenergic Pharmacology
- Anaesthetics
- Antibiotics
- Antiemetics and Laxatives
- Antiplatelets, Anticoagulants and Thrombolysis
- Antivirals
- Cancer Chemotherapy
- Cardiac Arrhythmias
- Cholinergic Pharmacology
- Diuretics and Renal Pharmacology
- Drugs Affecting Acid Secretion
- Epilepsy and Anti-epileptic Drugs
- Hyperlipidaemias
- Hypertension and Heart Failure
- Immunosuppression and Disease-modifying Therapy
- Introduction to Psychopharmacology
- NSAIDs
- Opioids
- Parkinson's Disease and Myasthenia Gravis
- Pharmacodynamics
- Pharmacokinetics
- Pharmacology of Airway Control
- Pharmacology of Insulin
- Pharmacovigilance and Pharmacogenetics (pharmacovigilance: monitoring the safety of medicines in use; pharmacogenetics: how genes affect drug response)
- Poisoning and STOPP/START (STOPP and START are screening tools for reviewing the medicines of older people)
- Reproductive and Post-reproductive Health
- Research Methods in Pharmacology
- Safe Prescribing
From other subjects
Nutrition, Digestion and Absorption
37 articles
The gut, liver and pancreas, how food is digested, absorbed and turned into energy, and the nutrition behind health and disease.
Gastrointestinal 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
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
Drugs and examination
- Drugs Affecting Acid Secretion
- Antiemetics and Laxatives
- Hepatitis
- Abdominal OSCE Examination
- Rectal (PR) OSCE Examination
- Stoma OSCE Examination
- Hernia OSCE Examination
Practice questions on SimpleMed+: Gastrointestinal System, Metabolism
Neuroscience, Special Senses & Behaviour
44 articles
The nervous system and special senses, behaviour and mental health, and the neurological and psychiatric conditions seen in practice.
Nervous system
- 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 I-VI
- Cranial Nerves VII-XII
Special senses
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
Behaviour and mental health
- Dementia
- Delirium
- Mood Disorders
- Anxiety and Anxiety Disorders
- Psychosis
- Introduction to Psychopharmacology
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
Reproduction, Growth & Ageing
35 articles
Reproductive anatomy and physiology, pregnancy and birth, development and growth, and the changes of ageing.
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 newborn
- 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 (teratology is the study of what causes birth defects)
- Basics of Embryology
- Inborn Errors of Metabolism and Newborn Screening
- Sepsis in Paediatrics
Disease, cancer and the breast
- 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
- Male Urological Conditions
- Prostate Pathology
- Urological Malignancy
Growth and ageing
- HPA and Growth Hormone (HPA here means the hypothalamic-pituitary axis)
- The Menopause
- Reproductive and Post-reproductive Health
- Ageing
- Falls
- Men's Health
Examination guides
Practice questions on SimpleMed+: Reproductive System, Embryology, Endocrinology
Student Selected Component
5 articles
A scholarly project in Year 2: a laboratory, healthcare delivery or community project. These articles cover reading and judging evidence.
Population and Social Science
From other subjects
Practice questions on SimpleMed+: Population and Social Science, Pharmacology
Throughout Years 1 and 2
Psychology, Sociology and Lifestyle Medicine
9 articles
How people think, behave and live, and how lifestyle shapes health and illness.
Patient-Centred Care
From other subjects
- Models of Health
- Beliefs of the Public
- Nutrition, Diet and Body Weight
- Anxiety and Anxiety Disorders
- Mood Disorders
- Control of Appetite
Practice questions on SimpleMed+: Population and Social Science, Patient-Centred Care
Health Systems, Technologies and Population Health
12 articles
How health services are organised and paid for, how disease is measured in populations, and how prevention works.
Population and Social Science
- 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
From other subjects
Practice Population and Social Science questions on SimpleMed+
Professionalism, Ethics and Law
6 articles
Safe, honest and professional practice, safeguarding and caring for people at the end of life.
Pharmacology
- Safe Prescribing
- Pharmacovigilance and Pharmacogenetics (pharmacovigilance: monitoring the safety of medicines in use; pharmacogenetics: how genes affect drug response)
- Poisoning and STOPP/START (STOPP and START are screening tools for reviewing the medicines of older people)
From other subjects
Practice questions on SimpleMed+: Population and Social Science, Patient-Centred Care
Clinical Practice and Community Care
50 articles
Clinical skills, communication and general practice 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 stands for gait, arms, legs and spine; gait is the way you walk)
- 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
Patients you will meet
Practice questions on SimpleMed+: OSCE, Patient-Centred Care
How Brunel assesses Phase 1
- Brunel assesses throughout the year with online coursework, single best answer (SBA) tests, invigilated (supervised) exams, OSCEs and anatomy spot tests. Brunel does not name exam papers for each year.
- Team-based learning (TBL) is the main method of classroom teaching at Brunel, and you work in teams of six. Some SBA tests are taken individually during TBL sessions.
- Anatomy is taught on plastinated specimens (preserved human specimens that you can handle), so expect spot tests. Year 2 adds pharmacology and a Student Selected Component.
- Brunel 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
In Phase 1 you already meet patients on general practice placements. The later phases (Years 3 to 5) are more clinical, with placements in hospitals and general practice.
An independent revision guide by SimpleMed, not endorsed by or affiliated with Brunel Medical School or Brunel University of London. Module names follow Brunel's course page. Brunel's course page names the Year 1 body systems but publishes no topic lists, so the foundations and anatomy unit, the split of Introduction to Medical Sciences 2 into two units, and all groupings of articles are ours; check your official materials. Last updated October 2026.
