Hertfordshire Medical School Years 1 and 2 Cheat Sheet
Hertfordshire's two Clinical Science years, with each subject area mapped to the SimpleMed articles that cover it. Find your unit, open its articles, then revise.
- 2 years
- 11 units
- 356 SimpleMed articles
Independent guide, not endorsed by Hertfordshire Medical School. Many articles are listed under more than one unit, so the unit totals add up to more than 356. About this page
Year 1, Clinical Science 1
End of Year 1 examsIntroduction to Medicine
23 articles
The starting point: the language of anatomy, how cells and tissues are built, how health is modelled and the basics of safe, patient-centred care.
Musculoskeletal System
- Anatomical Terms
- Connective Tissue
- Cartilage: Structure, Growth and Repair
- Basics of Bone Anatomy
- Structure of Bones
- Joints
- Structure of the Muscles
Pathology
- How to Read a Histology Slide
- Epithelium, Skin and Exocrine Glands
- Basics of Pathology
- An Introduction to Pathology
- Cellular Adaptations
Population and Social Science
- Models of Health
- Beliefs of the Public
- Introduction to Population Science
- Patient Safety and Quality Control
From other subjects
- Introduction to the Cell
- Biological Membranes
- Basics of Embryology
- An Introduction to Infection
- Child Safeguarding
- Blood Pressure Measurement OSCE Guide
- Venepuncture and Blood Cultures OSCE Guide
Practice questions on SimpleMed+: Cell Physiology and Biology, Patient-Centred Care
Life Support
74 articles
What keeps oxygen and blood moving: the heart, lungs, blood and kidneys, with their control mechanisms and the common diseases.
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
- 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
Haematology
- 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
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
Pharmacology
- Cardiac Arrhythmias
- Hypertension and Heart Failure
- Antiplatelets, Anticoagulants and Thrombolysis
- Hyperlipidaemias
- Pharmacology of Airway Control
- Diuretics and Renal Pharmacology
Pathology
From other subjects
Practice questions on SimpleMed+: Cardiovascular System, Respiratory System, Haematology, Urinary System
Genomics and Life Maintenance
67 articles
How genes, enzymes and hormones keep the body running: inheritance and testing, metabolism and nutrition, the endocrine glands and the gut and liver.
Genetics
- 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
Cell Physiology and 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
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
Endocrinology
- An Introduction to Endocrinology
- Calcium Metabolism
- Control of Appetite
- Diabetes Mellitus
- HPA and Growth Hormone
- Pituitary Disorders
- The Adrenal Glands and Adrenal Disorders
- The Endocrine Pancreas
- The Thyroid Gland
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
Pharmacology
From other subjects
Practice questions on SimpleMed+: Genetics, Metabolism, Endocrinology, Gastrointestinal System
Year 2, Clinical Science 2
End of Year 2 examsLife Protection
47 articles
How the body defends itself and what happens when it fails: immunity, infection, inflammation, repair, autoimmunity (when the immune system attacks healthy tissue) and the drugs that treat them.
Immunology
- Food Allergy
- Hypersensitivity Reactions
- Immunological Therapies
- Introduction to Autoimmunity
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
- Type 1 Hypersensitivity
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
Pharmacology
- Antibiotics
- Antivirals
- Immunosuppression and Disease-modifying Therapy
- Pharmacovigilance and Pharmacogenetics
- Cancer Chemotherapy
Pathology
- Acute Inflammation
- Chronic Inflammation
- Regeneration and Repair of Tissues
- The Lymphatic System
- Introduction to Neoplasia
- Pathogenesis of Neoplasms
- Behaviour of Neoplasms
From other subjects
- Haematopoiesis and the Spleen
- Blood Groups, Crossmatching and Transfusion Reactions
- Child Immunisations
- Tuberculosis
- Pneumonia and other Lower Respiratory Tract Infections
- Urinary Tract Infections
- Infections of the Reproductive Tract
- Infections of the Central Nervous System
- Gastroenteritis and Enterocolitis
Practice questions on SimpleMed+: Immunology, Infection, Pathology
Life Control
46 articles
The systems that coordinate the body: the brain, nerves, special senses and the mind, with the drugs that act on them.
Neuroanatomy and Psychiatry
- Anxiety and Anxiety Disorders
- Arterial Supply to the Brain
- Auditory and Vestibular Systems
- Basics of Neuroanatomy
- Cells and Components of the Nervous System
- Delirium
- Dementia
- Development of the Nervous System
- Headaches
- Higher Cortical Function
- Infections of the Central Nervous System
- Mood Disorders
- Motor System
- Movement Disorders
- Production and Circulation of CSF and Related Disorders
- Psychosis
- Raised Intracranial Pressure
- Reticular Formation
- Somatosensory System
- Stroke
- Subarachnoid Haemorrhage
- The Cerebellum: Circuits, Coordination and Clinical Signs
- The Hypothalamus and Limbic System
- Visual System
Head and Neck
- The Meninges
- Cranial Nerves I-VI
- Cranial Nerves VII-XII
- The Eye
- Anatomy of the Ear
- Ear Pathology
- Autonomics of the Head and Neck
- The Nose
- The Larynx
Cell Physiology and Biology
Pharmacology
- Cholinergic Pharmacology
- Adrenergic Pharmacology
- Introduction to Psychopharmacology
- Epilepsy and Anti-epileptic Drugs
- Parkinson's Disease and Myasthenia Gravis
- Anaesthetics
- Opioids
- Poisoning and STOPP/START
From other subjects
Practice questions on SimpleMed+: Neuroanatomy and Psychiatry, Head and Neck
Life Structure
54 articles
The framework of the body: bones, joints, muscles and nerves of the limbs and spine, plus the skull and neck.
Musculoskeletal System
- Anatomical Terms
- Basics of Bone Anatomy
- Bones of the Foot
- Bones of the Hand
- Bones of the Lower Limb
- Bones of the Upper Limb
- Cartilage: Structure, Growth and Repair
- Conditions of the Ankle
- Conditions of the Arm
- Conditions of the Back and Neck
- Conditions of the Elbow
- Conditions of the Foot
- Conditions of the Hand
- Conditions of the Hip
- Conditions of the Knee
- Conditions of the Lower Back
- Conditions of the Lower Leg
- Conditions of the Shoulder and Clavicle
- Conditions of the Thigh
- Conditions of the Wrist
- Connective Tissue
- Dermatomes and Myotomes
- Joints
- Key Areas of the Lower Limb
- Key Areas of the Upper Limb
- Muscles in Action
- Muscles of the Forearm
- Muscles of the Gluteal Region
- Muscles of the Lower Leg
- Muscles of the Shoulder
- Muscles of the Thigh
- Muscles of the Upper Arm
- Structure of Bones
- Structure of the Muscles
- The Brachial Plexus
- The Lumbar Plexus
- The Sacral Plexus
- The Spine
Head and Neck
- The Skull
- The Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ)
- Fascial Planes, Muscles and Triangles
- Introduction to Head & Neck Anatomy
- Development of the Head and Neck
- The Oral Cavity and Pharynx
- Imaging of the Head and Neck
- Lymph Nodes and Neck Lumps
- Head and Neck Cancers
From other subjects
- Development of the Limbs and Body Wall
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
- NSAIDs
- Calcium Metabolism
- Abdominal Wall and Inguinal Canal
- The Pelvic Floor
Practice questions on SimpleMed+: Musculoskeletal System, Head and Neck
Life Cycle
38 articles
From conception to old age: reproduction, pregnancy and birth, childhood, the menopause and ageing, with the conditions of each stage.
Reproductive System
- Anatomy of the Man
- Anatomy of the Woman
- Benign Conditions of the Breast
- Development of the Reproductive System
- Diseases of the Mother in Pregnancy
- Gametogenesis
- Infections of the Reproductive Tract
- Introduction to the Breast
- Labour and Delivery
- Malignancies of the Reproductive Tract
- Malignant Breast Disease
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
- Physiology of the Fetus
- Physiology of the Mother
- Puberty
- Sex, Infertility and Contraception
- The Menopause
- The Menstrual Cycle and Menstrual Abnormalities
- The Pelvic Floor
- The Placenta
- The Postpartum Period
Embryology
Patient-Centred Care
Urinary System
From other subjects
Practice questions on SimpleMed+: Reproductive System, Embryology, Patient-Centred Care
Population Health
14 articles
Health across whole populations: how disease is counted, what shapes it, how screening and prevention work and what care costs.
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
- Lifestyle Medicine
- Falls
- Travel-related Infections
- Nutrition, Diet and Body Weight
- Genetic Testing and Counselling
Practice questions on SimpleMed+: Population and Social Science, Patient-Centred Care
Evidence-Based Practice
10 articles
Turning evidence into decisions: study design, statistics, reading a paper critically, and prescribing safely.
Population and Social Science
- Evidence-Based Practice
- Epidemiological Studies
- Describing Data and Testing Hypotheses
- Patient Safety and Quality Control
Pharmacology
- Research Methods in Pharmacology
- Safe Prescribing
- Pharmacokinetics
- Pharmacodynamics
- Pharmacovigilance and Pharmacogenetics
From other subjects
Practice questions on SimpleMed+: Population and Social Science, Pharmacology
Throughout Years 1 and 2
Professional Skills
50 articles
The skills theme: history taking, examination and procedures.
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
- 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
The wider consultation
Practice questions on SimpleMed+: OSCE, Patient-Centred Care
Early Years Clinical Experience (EYCE)
16 articles
Clinical experience in the early years of the course. These articles cover the conditions and patients you are likely to meet.
Patient-Centred Care
Neuroanatomy and Psychiatry
Cardiovascular System
Respiratory System
From other subjects
How Hertfordshire assesses Years 1 and 2
- Each year is one Clinical Science module with three themes: Basic Clinical Sciences, Professional Skills and Patients, Populations and Society.
- Assessment includes written examinations and Clinical Competency Assessments (CCAs).
- Early Years Clinical Experience and a Student Selected Component (a part of the course that you choose yourself) sit alongside the science teaching. The public Hertfordshire course page names no other exams.
- Hertfordshire 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 (multiple-choice questions with one correct answer) 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
After Year 2 you move into the clinical years, with placements in hospitals and general practice.
This is an independent revision guide written by SimpleMed. It is not endorsed by, or affiliated with, Hertfordshire Medical School or the University of Hertfordshire. City St George's, University of London supports the course, but has not endorsed this guide either. Unit names are the subject areas Hertfordshire publishes for each year. Hertfordshire does not say what each covers, so the grouping and article mapping are ours. Last updated October 2026.
