Liverpool Medical School Years 1 and 2 Cheat Sheet
The system blocks of Liverpool's first two years, normal function in Year 1 and disease in Year 2, with the SimpleMed articles that cover each. Find your block, open the articles, revise. AFP stands for Assessment for Progression, the end-of-year assessment that helps decide whether you move up a year.
- 2 years
- 20 units
- 356 SimpleMed articles
Independent guide, not endorsed by University of Liverpool School of Medicine. About this page
Year 1, System blocks
Year 1 AFPFoundation block
36 articles
The first few weeks, on the principles that underpin medicine, before the system blocks begin. Liverpool lists no topics, so the topic groups below are our own: cells, DNA, tissues and the basics of disease and drugs.
Cells and membranes
- 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 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 anatomical terms
- Anatomical Terms
- How to Read a Histology Slide
- Connective Tissue
- Basics of Embryology
- The Lymphatic System
Drugs and disease basics
- Pharmacokinetics
- Pharmacodynamics
- Basics of Pathology
- An Introduction to Pathology
- Cellular Adaptations
- Oxidative Stress
- An Introduction to Infection
- Innate Immunity
Practice questions on SimpleMed+: Cell Physiology and Biology, Genetics, Pathology
Cardiovascular system block (Year 1)
15 articles
Normal structure and function of the heart and circulation: how the heart beats, how pressure and flow are controlled, and the blood it carries. CVS means the cardiovascular system.
Heart and circulation
- Anatomy of the Cardiovascular System
- Embryological Development of the CVS
- The Cardiac Cycle
- Cardiac Conduction and Contraction
- Control of Cardiac Output
- Pulses and Pressures
- Special Circulations
- Electrocardiograms
Blood
Examination
- Cardiovascular System OSCE Examination
- Peripheral Vascular OSCE Examination
- Blood Pressure Measurement OSCE Guide
Practice questions on SimpleMed+: Cardiovascular System, Haematology
Respiratory system block (Year 1)
8 articles
How the lungs are built and how we breathe, exchange gases and keep blood pH steady, with lung function testing.
Lungs and breathing
- 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
Examination
Gastrointestinal and nutrition blocks (Year 1)
26 articles
The gut, liver and pancreas in health: how food is digested and absorbed, and how the body stores and uses energy.
Gut, liver and pancreas
- Development of the Gastrointestinal Tract
- Anatomy and Physiology of the Foregut
- Anatomy and Physiology of the Midgut
- Anatomy and Physiology of the Hindgut
- Abdominal Wall and Inguinal Canal
- Gastrointestinal Motility and the Enteric Nervous System
- Gastrointestinal Secretion, Digestion and Absorption
- Liver, Biliary and Exocrine Pancreatic Physiology
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
Examination
Practice questions on SimpleMed+: Gastrointestinal System, Metabolism
Renal system block (Year 1)
10 articles
How the kidneys filter blood, make urine and keep water, salt, potassium and acid in balance.
Kidneys and urinary tract
- Anatomy of the Kidneys, Bladder and Urethra
- Development of the Urinary System
- The Nephron
- Glomerular Filtration Rate and the Measurement of Kidney Function
- The Glomerulus: Tubular Reabsorption and Secretion
- Micturition
Fluid, salt and acid balance
Endocrine and reproductive blocks (Year 1)
25 articles
The hormones that control growth and metabolism, and normal reproduction from the menstrual cycle to pregnancy, birth and the menopause. HPA here means the hypothalamus and pituitary gland.
Hormones
- An Introduction to Endocrinology
- The Endocrine Pancreas
- HPA and Growth Hormone
- The Thyroid Gland
- Calcium Metabolism
- Control of Appetite
- Metabolic and Endocrine Regulation
- Temperature Regulation
Reproductive system
- Anatomy of the Woman
- Anatomy of the Man
- The Pelvic Floor
- Development of the Reproductive System
- Gametogenesis
- Puberty
- The Menstrual Cycle and Menstrual Abnormalities
- Introduction to the Breast
Pregnancy and birth
- The Placenta
- Physiology of the Mother
- Physiology of the Fetus
- Labour and Delivery
- The Postpartum Period
- The Menopause
Examination
Practice questions on SimpleMed+: Endocrinology, Reproductive System, Embryology
Neuroscience, musculoskeletal and head and neck blocks (Year 1)
58 articles
The structure and function of the brain and nerves, the head and neck, and the bones, joints and muscles, including the weekly anatomy that Liverpool teaches alongside each system. GALS (gait, arms, legs, spine) is a quick screening check of the joints and movement.
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
- Somatosensory System
- Motor System
- The Cerebellum: Circuits, Coordination and Clinical Signs
- Reticular Formation
- The Hypothalamus and Limbic System
- Higher Cortical Function
- Visual System
- Auditory and Vestibular Systems
Head and neck anatomy
- Introduction to Head & Neck Anatomy
- Development of the Head and Neck
- The Skull
- Fascial Planes, Muscles and Triangles
- Blood Supply to the Head and Neck
- Autonomics of the Head and Neck
- Cranial Nerves I-VI
- Cranial Nerves VII-XII
- The Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ)
- The Oral Cavity and Pharynx
- The Nose
- The Larynx
- The Eye
- Anatomy of the Ear
- The Meninges
- Imaging of the Head and Neck
Bones, joints and muscles
- Basics of Bone Anatomy
- Structure of Bones
- Cartilage: Structure, Growth and Repair
- Joints
- Structure of the Muscles
- Muscles in Action
- Development of the Limbs and Body Wall
- Dermatomes and Myotomes
- 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
- 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
- The Spine
Examination
- Cranial Nerve OSCE Examination
- Upper Limb Neurological OSCE Examination
- Lower Limb Neurological OSCE Examination
- Cerebellar OSCE Examination
- GALS Screening OSCE Examination
Practice questions on SimpleMed+: Neuroanatomy and Psychiatry, Head and Neck, Musculoskeletal System
Year 2, System blocks
Year 2 AFPCardiovascular and respiratory blocks (Year 2)
27 articles
The same systems again, with a focus on abnormality: heart, vessel and lung disease and the drugs that treat them.
Heart and vessel disease
- Electrocardiogram Pathology
- Murmurs
- Hypertension
- Atherosclerosis
- Acute Coronary Syndrome
- Heart Failure
- Artery and Vein Disease
- Congenital Heart Defects
- Haemodynamic Shock
- Thrombosis and Embolism
Lung 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
- Cardiovascular Drugs
- Hypertension and Heart Failure
- Cardiac Arrhythmias
- Antiplatelets, Anticoagulants and Thrombolysis
- Hyperlipidaemias
- Pharmacology of Airway Control
Examination
Practice questions on SimpleMed+: Cardiovascular System, Respiratory System, Pharmacology
Gastrointestinal and renal blocks (Year 2)
24 articles
Disease of the gut, liver, pancreas, kidneys and urinary tract, with the drugs that act on them.
Gut, liver and pancreas disease
- Upper Gastrointestinal Tract Pathology
- Intestinal Pathology
- Distal Gastrointestinal Tract Pathology
- Hepatic, Biliary and Pancreatic Pathology
- Gastroenteritis and Enterocolitis
- Gastrointestinal Malignancy
- Gastrointestinal Emergencies
- Hepatitis
- Alcohol Metabolism
Kidney and urinary disease
- Acute Kidney Injury
- Chronic Kidney Disease
- Glomerular Disease
- Diabetic Nephropathy
- Urinary Tract Infections
- Urinary Tract Obstruction
- Urinary Incontinence
- Male Urological Conditions
- Prostate Pathology
- Urological Malignancy
Drugs
Examination
Practice questions on SimpleMed+: Gastrointestinal System, Urinary System, Pharmacology
Endocrine and reproductive blocks (Year 2)
16 articles
Diabetes and other hormone disorders, and the conditions of pregnancy, the reproductive tract and the breast.
Endocrine disease
Reproductive and breast disease
- Diseases of the Mother in Pregnancy
- Sex, Infertility and Contraception
- Infections of the Reproductive Tract
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
- Malignancies of the Reproductive Tract
- Benign Conditions of the Breast
- Malignant Breast Disease
- Teratology and Congenital Malformations
- Reproductive and Post-reproductive Health
Examination
Practice questions on SimpleMed+: Endocrinology, Reproductive System, Pharmacology
Neuroscience, musculoskeletal and head and neck blocks (Year 2)
44 articles
Disease of the nervous system, the head and neck, and the bones, joints and muscles, with the drugs for epilepsy, Parkinson's disease and pain, including NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).
Neurological disease
- Stroke
- Subarachnoid Haemorrhage
- Raised Intracranial Pressure
- Headaches
- Movement Disorders
- Infections of the Central Nervous System
- Dementia
- Delirium
- Epilepsy and Anti-epileptic Drugs
- Parkinson's Disease and Myasthenia Gravis
- Opioids
- Anaesthetics
Head and neck disease
Bone, joint and muscle disease
- Conditions of the Shoulder and Clavicle
- Conditions of the Arm
- Conditions of the Elbow
- Conditions of the Wrist
- Conditions of the Hand
- 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
- Conditions of the Back and Neck
- Conditions of the Lower Back
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- NSAIDs
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
- 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
Practice questions on SimpleMed+: Neuroanatomy and Psychiatry, Head and Neck, Musculoskeletal System
Pathology, blood, infection and immunity (Year 2)
58 articles
The disease processes that cut across systems: inflammation, cancer, anaemia, clotting disorders, infection, allergy and autoimmunity, with antimicrobial and cancer drugs.
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 disease
- 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
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
Immunity and allergy
- Food Allergy
- Hypersensitivity Reactions
- Immunological Therapies
- Introduction to Autoimmunity
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
- Type 1 Hypersensitivity
- Immunosuppression and Disease-modifying Therapy
Anti-infective and cancer drugs
Examination
- Lymphoreticular OSCE Examination
- Pigmented Skin Lesion OSCE Examination
- Rash and Non-Pigmented Skin Lesion OSCE Examination
Practice questions on SimpleMed+: Pathology, Haematology, Infection, Immunology
Throughout Years 1 and 2
Clinical examination and procedural skills
44 articles
Runs through both years. You learn to take a history, examine each body system and perform common 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
Practice questions on SimpleMed+: OSCE, Patient-Centred Care
Communication for Clinical Practice (CCP)
6 articles
The articles here cover how people understand health, make choices and face illness.
Patient-Centred Care
From other subjects
Practice questions on SimpleMed+: Patient-Centred Care, Population and Social Science
Professionalism, ethics and legal context
5 articles
Safe, honest and accountable practice, from patient safety to protecting children and vulnerable adults.
Practice questions on SimpleMed+: Population and Social Science, Patient-Centred Care
Psychology and Sociology as Applied to Medicine (PSM)
10 articles
How mind, behaviour and social circumstances shape health, and the common mental health and ageing conditions you meet early.
Neuroanatomy and Psychiatry
From other subjects
Practice questions on SimpleMed+: Neuroanatomy and Psychiatry, Population and Social Science
Public, Preventative and Global Health
7 articles
How disease is measured and prevented in populations, from immunisation to travel health and the cost of care.
Population and Social Science
- Introduction to Population Science
- Epidemiological Studies
- Health Economics
- Population and Social Science Summary
From other subjects
Practice Population and Social Science questions on SimpleMed+
Therapeutics and prescribing
8 articles
How drugs are absorbed, act and are prescribed safely, including interactions, side effects, poisoning and STOPP/START (checklists for reviewing an older person's medicines).
Pharmacology
- Safe Prescribing
- Pharmacokinetics
- Pharmacodynamics
- Pharmacovigilance and Pharmacogenetics
- Poisoning and STOPP/START
- Cholinergic Pharmacology
- Adrenergic Pharmacology
From other subjects
Research and Scholarship
5 articles
Literature searching, critical appraisal and evidence-based practice.
Population and Social Science
From other subjects
Practice Population and Social Science questions on SimpleMed+
Personalised Medicine and Genetics
10 articles
How inherited variation causes disease and shapes treatment, from single genes to testing and counselling.
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
From other subjects
How Liverpool assesses Years 1 and 2
- After each system block you can take a self-directed online test with feedback, called Assessment for Learning (AFL). It checks your understanding.
- Each year ends with an Assessment for Progression (AFP): integrated written papers, not split by subject, that mix extended matching (choose the best option for each question from a shared list of options) and single best answer questions.
- Clinical and Professional Skills Assessment (CPSA) uses OSCE format, and OSCEs begin in Year 2 as assessment for learning.
- Liverpool School of Medicine publishes the official dates and formats, and the programme is under review. 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
The later years move onto clinical placements.
This is an independent revision guide written by SimpleMed. It is not endorsed by, or affiliated with, the University of Liverpool School of Medicine or the University of Liverpool. The themes that run through both years follow Liverpool's published programme overview. Liverpool does not publish block names or order, so the system blocks and their grouping are ours. Always check your official course materials. Last updated October 2026.
