MRCS Practice Paper 1 Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering surgical anatomy, physiology, and pathology concepts from MRCS practice materials.

Superior Vena Cava (SVC)

Formed by the union of the right and left brachiocephalic veins behind the right first costal cartilage.

Hypothermia

Defined as a core temperature below $35\,^{\circ}\text{C}$; cardiac arrhythmias occur below $32\,^{\circ}\text{C}$ and asystole below $28\,^{\circ}\text{C}$.

Brachial Plexus Cords

Functional divisions where the lateral cord continues as the musculocutaneous nerve, the medial as the ulnar nerve, and the posterior as the radial and axillary nerves.

Total Body Water (TBW)

In a $70\,\text{kg}$ man, approximately $42\,\text{L}$ ($60\%$ body weight), with $28\,\text{L}$ being intracellular and $14\,\text{L}$ extracellular.

Hyperkalaemia

Elevated serum potassium ($>5.5\,\text{mmol/l}$) caused by metabolic acidosis, cell lysis, renal failure, or potassium-sparing diuretics.

Hartmann's Solution

An isotonic crystalloid containing $131\,\text{mmol/l}$ $Na^+$, $5\,\text{mmol/l}$ $K^+$, $111\,\text{mmol/l}$ $Cl^-$, $29\,\text{mmol/l}$ $HCO_3^-$ and $2\,\text{mmol/l}$ $Ca^{2+}$.

Ondansetron

An antiemetic drug that acts as a $5\text{-HT}_3$ antagonist in the chemoreceptor trigger zone (CTZ).

Alpha-Adrenoreceptors

Sympathetic receptors mediating pupillary dilation, thick saliva secretion, peripheral vasoconstriction, and ejaculation.

Bohr Effect

Relates to the transport of $O_2$; oxygen affinity decreases in response to increased acidity or $PCO_2$.

Haldane Effect

Relates to $CO_2$ transport; the release of $CO_2$ in pulmonary capillaries as $PO_2$ rises.

Inotropes

Agents used to alter the force of muscular contractions, such as Noradrenaline (primarily $\alpha_1$ effects) used for blood pressure in sepsis.

Diaphragmatic Openings

Anatomical apertures at $T8$ (IVC), $T10$ (oesophagus), and $T12$ (aorta/thoracic duct).

Rotator Cuff

Muscular support for the shoulder joint consisting of subscapularis, supraspinatus, infraspinatus, and teres minor.

Compartment Syndrome

Condition where increased pressure within a fascial space exceeds capillary perfusion pressure ($\approx 40\,\text{mmHg}$), requiring urgent fasciotomy.

Calot's Triangle

Surgical landmark bounded medially by the common hepatic duct, laterally by the cystic duct, and superiorly by the liver.

Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)

Scoring system (3–15) assessing Best Motor Response, Best Verbal Response, and Best Eye Opening.

MEN I (Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia)

Autosomal dominant syndrome (Chromosome 11) characterized by pituitary, parathyroid, and pancreatic endocrine tumors.

SIRS (Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome)

Systemic response defined by 2+ criteria: $HR > 90\,\text{bpm}$, $RR > 20/\text{min}$, $Temp > 38\,^{\circ}\text{C}$ or $< 36\,^{\circ}\text{C}$, and $WCC > 12\times 10^9\text{/L}$.