Free USMLE Step 1 & Step 2 CK Notes

62 subjects of high-yield revision notes, free to read. Every topic is also available as practice questions and flashcards in the app.

• Must-Know FactsDx of Aortic Dissection: ECHO If unstable; CT Angiography if stable Dx of coarctation: ECHO…
• Cardiovascular SystemRheumatic Heart Disease: GAS Acute Rheumatic Fever: MECCS Migratory Polyarthritis Erythema…
• Respiratory SystemAcute Respiratory Failure: hypoxia (<60mmHg), hypercapnic (PaCO2 >50mmHg) or both V/Q mismatch…
• Gastrointestinal SystemGallstones (tx if sx only) Elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy Acute cholecystitis,…
• NeurologyMigraine Abortive: Triptans (5HT Agonist); NSAIDs/acetaminophen; Antiemetics; Ergotamine (5HT…
• Infectious DiseasesRespiratory Pneumonia: Shunting; C02 low d/t hyperventilation Community acquired pneumonia:…
• Renal & Genitourinary SystemBladder cancer: Hydronephrosis: tumour can cause obstruction + Voiding symptoms AKI causes AG…
• HaematologyIron Deficiency: increased RDW Anemia of Chronic (Inflammatory) Disease (Hepcidin inhibits…
• EndocrinologyHyperthyroidism Excess thyroid hormone increases osteoclasts activity: Hypercalcaemia —->…
• PaediatricsSickle Cell Anemia Splenic sequestration crisis: Splenomegaly and signs of Shock Compensatory…
• ObstetricsEndometriosis: Uterus not enlarged Bleeds into peritoneal cavity DYSMENORRHEA and dyspareunia…
• PsychiatryDepression Tx: SSRIs preferred Most important RF for suicide: Previous attempt Sleep:…
• SurgeryRectus sheath Hematoma: anticoagulation Acute onset periumbilical pain w palpable abdo…
• Autoimmune & Connective Tissue DiseaseRheumatoid Arthritis Osteopoenia/osteoporosis; Periarticular erosions Rheumatoid nodules:…
• Biostatistics & EpidemiologyCase (disease) Control (no disease) A——> Has disease O——> No disease Retrospective: What…
• Congenital DisordersCoarctation of aorta Preductal presents few days after birth as when first born —> blood can…
• DermatologyPemphigus Vulgaris (autoimmune) —-> deadly: AutoAb to desmosomes: IgG Flaccid bullae and…
• Endocrine & MusculoskeletalLambert Eaton Syndrome Less likely to have ocular (ptosis) and bulbar (dysphagia, dysarthria)…
• ImmunologyTrace Mineral Deficinecies RF: PRN Malabsorption eg IBD, Bowel resection Zinc deficiency…
• OphthalmologyCentral retinal artery occlusion: Painless monocular vision loss Pupil fails to react to light…
• Stroke Syndromesi Spiro corcia thalamic gym ## Spink ## Hadid erroneous x ## Hadid ## Lorinrowo ## Colored…
• Vaccination & ImmunisationTetanus Prophylaxis If vaccinated: Clean/minor wound: only give vaccine if last dose over 10…
• Musculoskeletal SystemThe one question to ask first Every MSK stem resolves faster if you decide early whether the…
• Female Reproductive System & BreastThe reflex that saves you marks Any woman of reproductive age with abdominal or pelvic pain…
• Male Reproductive SystemThe acute scrotum This is the highest-yield decision in the system, and it is a two-way…
• Ethics, Safety & CommunicationWhy this section is worth your time These items are US-specific, formulaic once learned, and…
• Pharmacology — MechanismsAutonomic pharmacology is the backbone Know receptor → G-protein → second messenger for every…
• Microbiology — BuzzwordsToxin mechanisms Organism Toxin action Corynebacterium diphtheriae Inactivates EF-2…
• Biochemistry — Metabolic MapsEnzyme-deficiency diseases the exam returns to Von Gierke (I): glucose-6-phosphatase → severe…
• Immunology — CoreThe four hypersensitivity reactions Type I (immediate, minutes): IgE, mast-cell degranulation…
• Pathology I — Cellular Injury, Adaptation & DeathWhy this chapter is worth the most Cell injury, inflammation and neoplasia are the general…
• Pathology II — Inflammation & RepairAcute inflammation Cardinal signs: rubor, calor, dolor, tumor, functio laesa Vascular phase:…
• Pathology III — NeoplasiaVocabulary Benign: well-differentiated, encapsulated, no invasion or metastasis; suffix -oma…
• Physiology — High-YieldCardiovascular Cardiac output = stroke volume × heart rate; SV set by preload, afterload,…
• Genetics & Embryology — High-YieldInheritance patterns Autosomal dominant: vertical transmission, both sexes (Marfan, NF,…
• Physiology — Cardiovascular & RespiratoryCardiac output and its determinants CO = heart rate × stroke volume; mean arterial pressure =…
• Physiology — Renal, Fluid & Acid-BaseGlomerular filtration & clearance GFR is set by the balance of Starling forces across the…
• Physiology — Endocrine & ReproductiveHypothalamic-pituitary axis The hypothalamus releases releasing/inhibiting hormones to the…
• Physiology — Neuromuscular & SensoryMembrane & action potential The resting membrane potential (~-70 mV) is set by K+ permeability…
• Physiology — GI, Blood & HomeostasisGI secretion & its control Parietal cells secrete gastric acid (H+/K+ ATPase) and intrinsic…
• OncologyDiagnostic reasoning patterns Cancer often masquerades as something else — iron-deficiency…
• Modes of Inheritance & Genetic DisordersHow to read a pedigree — the five modes Autosomal dominant (AD): one mutant allele suffices.…
• Vitamins & MicronutrientsOverview: water- vs fat-soluble Water-soluble (B-complex and C): not stored (except B12), so…
• Metabolic Pathways — Enzymes, Regulation & DrugsGlycolysis Location: cytoplasm (all cells). Rate-limiting enzyme: phosphofructokinase-1…
• Inborn Errors of MetabolismAmino-acid disorders Phenylketonuria (PKU): deficient phenylalanine hydroxylase (or its BH4…
• Molecular Biology — Genes, Replication & ExpressionChromatin structure Nucleosome: DNA wound around a histone octamer (2 each of H2A, H2B, H3,…
• Cell Biology, Collagen & Connective TissueOrganelle & protein-trafficking disorders I-cell disease (inclusion-cell disease): failure of…
• Lab Techniques & Genetics ConceptsAmplification & editing PCR (polymerase chain reaction): amplifies a DNA target through cycles…
• Special Metabolic Pathways — Sugars, Amino Acids & FatsFructose metabolism disorders Essential fructosuria: fructokinase deficiency — benign;…
• Lipid Transport — Lipoproteins, Apolipoproteins & DyslipidaemiasThe lipoproteins (biggest/least dense → smallest/most dense) Chylomicrons: carry dietary…
• Immunology — Lymphoid Organs, MHC/HLA & Lymphocyte ActivationLymph node: structure & function Function: filters lymph and is where adaptive responses are…
• Antibodies — Structure, Isotypes & Immunologic MemoryAntibody structure A basic antibody is a Y-shaped molecule of two identical heavy chains and…
• Complement, Cytokines, Interferons & CD MarkersComplement: activation pathways Classical pathway: triggered by antigen-bound IgG or IgM (C1q…
• Clinical Immunology — Hypersensitivity, Immunodeficiency & TransplantThe four hypersensitivity types (ACID) Type I — Anaphylactic/immediate (IgE): preformed IgE on…
• Cardiac Embryology, Fetal Circulation & AnatomyHeart morphogenesis Cardiac looping: the primitive heart tube loops to the right (dextral…
• Cardiac Physiology, Cycle, Valves & MurmursCardiac output & the core formulas Cardiac output (CO) = heart rate × stroke volume. Also…
• Congenital Heart Disease & Syndrome AssociationsRight-to-left shunts — the cyanotic "5 T's" Truncus arteriosus (1 vessel): the…
• Vascular Disease & Coronary Artery DiseaseHypertension — pathophysiology & pharmacology Primary (essential, ~90%): multifactorial —…
• Arrhythmias, Channelopathies & Conduction BlocksNarrow-complex tachycardias (QRS <120 ms — supraventricular) Atrial fibrillation: chaotic…
• Cardiomyopathy, Heart Failure, Shock & Pericardial DiseaseCardiomyopathies Dilated (commonest, ~90%): systolic dysfunction with eccentric hypertrophy…
• Cardiovascular PharmacologyHypertension: what to target, and why Primary (essential) hypertension: the problem is raised…
• Thyroid & Parathyroid PathologyHypothyroidism vs hyperthyroidism Thyroid hormone does two things: it raises the basal…