Endocrinology is a essential part of MRCP exam carrying 15 marks in the exam. Most student usual attain low marks in this section. Endocrinology is the study of the endocrine system in the human body. This is a system of glands which secrete hormones. Hormones are chemicals which affect the actions of different organ systems in the body. Examples include thyroid hormone, growth hormone, and insulin. Medicos Library has provided high standard Endocrinology on examination revision materials for medical exams.
- Mechanisms of hormone action and importance of
- Receptors and substances involved in control of intracellular metabolism
- Clinically relevant anatomical aspects of the speciality
- Thyroid
- Mechanisms of thyroid disease
- Clinical presentation and treatment
Ex:
—Thyroid hormone biosynthesis and its control
—Important drugs interfering with thyroid function
—Indications for use of various types of thyroid function test
—Autoimmunity and the thyroid
—Clinical features of thyrotoxicosis and hypothyroidism
—Goitre and its management
—Thyroid neoplasia - Hypothalamus/Pituitary
- Physiology and testing of the control mechanisms of the endocrine system
Ex:
—The physiology and Pathophysiology of control of pituitary hormone secretion
—The mechanisms of maintaining plasma osmolality
—Tests of pituitary diseases such as acromegaly, prolactinoma and Cushing’s syndrome
—Drugs used in the treatment of pituitary disease
—Pituitary replacement therapy - Adrenal
- Clinically relevant mechanisms of steroid biosynthesis
Ex:
—Build-up of precursor compounds when there is defective cortisol biosynthesis in adrenocortical hyperplasia
—Tests for adrenocortical function
—Endocrine causes of hypertension and their differential diagnosis
—Clinical features and management of adrenal hyper- and hypofunction
—Complications of steroid therapy - Ovary
- Physiology of ovarian functions
- Conditions presenting to a physician
Ex:
—Hormonal changes across the menstrual cycle
—Physiological changes in pregnancy
—The differential diagnosis of hirsutism and virilism
—Causes of amenorrhoea and anovulation
—Endocrine causes of infertility - Testis
- Relevant investigations of urological infertility
- Endocrine aspects of testicular functions - Growth
- Factors controlling growth hormone secretion
- Normal growth patterns
- General medical and endocrine causes of short stature
- Control of excessive growth
- Growth hormone therapy and its complications - Parathyroid/bone
- Control of bone turnover and disorders which can result of its failure
Ex:
—Control of calcium metabolism
—Laboratory tests of parathyroid function
—The causes of hypercalcaemia
—Mechanisms of oesteomalacia
—Hyperparathyroidism, both primary and secondary
—The differentiation of primary, secondary and pseudo-hypoparathyroidism
—The differentiation of primary, secondary and pseudo-hypoparathyroidism
—The prophylaxis and treatment of osteoporosis
—Calcitonin and its role in metabolism - Diabetes mellitus
- Detailed knowledge is required.
Ex:
—Control of carbohydrate metabolism
—Genetics of diabetes
—Aetiology of type I diabetes and type 2 diabetes
—Long-term complications of diabetes
—Management of diabetic emergencies
—Differential diagnosis and treatment of hypoglycaemia
Disorders of lipid metabolism
- Importance of this group disorder
Ex:
—Control of cholesterol metabolism
—Aetiology of different types of hyperlipidaemia including both cholesterol and triglyceride disorders
—Indications for lipid lowering agents and their complications
—Types of secondary hyperlipidaemia
MRCP(UK) develops and delivers postgraduate medical examinations around the world on behalf of the three Royal Colleges of Physicians of the UK.
Part 1 at a glance
- one-day examination
- two three-hour papers
- 200 mutiple-choice (best of five) questions
- no images
- sat in an examination hall.
Exam pass marks
MRCP(UK) examinations
| Examination | Pass mark |
| Part 1 | 540 |
| Part 2 Written | 454 |
| PACES | 130 (see individual skills breakdown below) |
The composition of the papers is as follows:
| Specialty | Number of questions* |
| Cardiology | 15 |
| Clinical haematology and oncology | 15 |
| Clinical Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology | 16 |
| Emergency and Critical care | |
| Clinical sciences** | 25 |
| Dermatology | 8 |
| Endocrinology | 15 |
| Geriatric medicine | 4 |
| Gastroenterology | 15 |
| Infectious diseases and GUM | 15 |
| Neurology | 15 |
| Nephrology | 15 |
| Ophthalmology | 4 |
| Psychiatry | 8 |
| Respiratory medicine | 15 |
| Rheumatology | 15 |
| 200 |
* This should be taken as an indication of the likely number of questions – the actual number may vary slightly.
** Clinical sciences comprise:
| Cell, molecular and membrane biology | 2 |
| Clinical anatomy | 3 |
| Clinical biochemistry and metabolism | 4 |
| Clinical physiology | 4 |
| Genetics | 3 |
| Immunology | 4 |
| Statistics, epidemiology and evidence-based medicine | 5 |
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