Mastering Physiology for NEET-PG and INI-CET in Just 4 Days

Daily Targets

  • Read/Revise 3–4 hours.
  • Solve 120–150 MCQs (30 per block, timed) + immediate error‑log notes.
  • Make 4–6 mini‑cards/day (curves, equations, algorithms, hallmark differentiators).

Day 1 — General Physiology, Cell/Nerve/Muscle, Blood & Immuno

General physiology & homeostasis

  • Body fluid compartments: TBW, ICF, ECF; plasma vs interstitial; indicators (concepts).
  • Osmolality vs tonicity; effective osmoles; Gibbs–Donnan; Starling forces at capillary.
  • Membrane transport: simple/facilitated diffusion; primary/secondary active transport; endo/exocytosis.
  • Receptors & signaling: GPCR (cAMP, IP3/DAG), receptor tyrosine kinase, JAK‑STAT, nuclear receptors.
  • Resting membrane potential: Nernst, Goldman; role of Na⁺/K⁺‑ATPase.

Nerve

  • Action potential: thresholds, depolarization/repolarization, refractory periods; saltatory conduction; myelination effects.
  • Synapses: EPSP/IPSP; temporal/spatial summation; presynaptic inhibition; neurotransmitters (ACh, glutamate, GABA, DA, 5‑HT, NE).
  • Sensory receptors: transduction; adaptation (phasic vs tonic).

Muscle

  • Skeletal muscle: excitation‑contraction coupling (T‑tubules, DHPR–RyR), cross‑bridge cycle, length–tension, force–velocity, motor unit recruitment, fatigue.
  • Smooth muscle: Ca²⁺–calmodulin–MLCK pathway; latch phenomenon; single‑unit vs multi‑unit; pacemakers (slow waves).
  • Cardiac muscle features: intercalated discs, syncytium, long refractory period.
  • NMJ: ACh release, end‑plate potential; anticholinesterases; myasthenia vs Lambert–Eaton (concepts).

Blood

  • Plasma proteins (albumin, globulins, fibrinogen): oncotic pressure, transport, ESR effects.
  • RBCs: indices (MCV, MCHC, RDW), Hb types, O₂ content formula; anemia classification (micro/macro/hemolytic); reticulocyte responses.
  • Hemostasis: platelet plug (adhesion/aggregation), coagulation cascade (intrinsic/extrinsic/common), PT vs aPTT, anticoagulants, fibrinolysis.
  • WBCs: neutrophil functions (chemotaxis, phagocytosis), eosinophils, basophils, monocytes/macrophages; innate vs adaptive immunity basics; immunoglobulin classes (concepts).
  • Blood groups: ABO & Rh; cross‑match basics; hemolytic disease of newborn concept.
  • Jaundice physiology: pre‑hepatic, hepatic, post‑hepatic pointers.

Day‑1 MCQs focus

  • Nernst/Goldman intuition; AP/refractory; NMJ pharmacology basics; ESR influencers; PT vs aPTT; ABO/Rh logic; anemia patterns.

Day 2 — Cardiovascular System (CVS) & Integrated Circulations

Cardiac muscle & cycle

  • Wiggers diagram: valve events, pressure/volume changes, heart sounds (S1–S4) and splits.
  • Cardiac output: determinants (HR, SV); preload/afterload/contractility; Frank–Starling; pressure–volume loops; ejection fraction.

Conduction & ECG

  • SA/AV nodes, His–Purkinje; pacemaker potential (If current); ANS effects.
  • ECG basics: P, QRS, T; PR/QT intervals; axis; hypertrophy/ischemia clues; electrolyte effects (hyper/hypo‑K⁺, Ca²⁺).
  • Arrhythmia overview: blocks (AV I/II/III), AF/flutter, VT/VF (recognition level).

Vascular physiology

  • Arteries vs veins (compliance), arterioles (resistance), capillaries (exchange); Laplace law.
  • Microcirculation & lymphatics; Starling filtration/reabsorption; edema mechanisms.
  • BP regulation: baroreflex, chemoreflex, RAAS, ADH, ANP; long‑term renal control.

Special circulations (exam‑heavy)

  • Coronary (systolic compression, subendocardial vulnerability), cerebral (autoregulation, CO₂ reactivity), pulmonary (low resistance, hypoxic vasoconstriction), splanchnic, renal, skin (thermoregulation), fetal (shunts) concepts.

Pathophysiology snapshots

  • Shock (hypovolemic, cardiogenic, distributive): compensations; orthostasis.
  • Exercise physiology: cardiac, vascular, ventilatory adjustments; trained vs untrained differences (concepts).

Day‑2 MCQs focus

  • PV loops & murmurs mapping; baroreflex logic; ECG intervals & electrolyte changes; coronary vs cerebral reactivity; shock patterns.

Day 3 — Respiratory & Renal Systems (with Acid–Base)

Respiratory mechanics & gas exchange

  • Lung volumes/capacities (VT, IRV, ERV, RV, FRC, TLC); spirometry patterns (obstructive vs restrictive).
  • Compliance & elastance; surfactant; work of breathing; hysteresis.
  • Ventilation: minute vs alveolar; dead space (anatomic vs physiologic); V/Q matching & shunt.
  • Diffusion: Fick’s law; DLCO; diffusion‑limited vs perfusion‑limited gases (CO vs N₂O/O₂ contexts).

Gas transport & regulation

  • O₂ transport: Hb–O₂ dissociation curve; shifts (Bohr, temp, pH, 2,3‑DPG); O₂ content vs saturation vs PaO₂; CO poisoning logic.
  • CO₂ transport: bicarbonate (carbonic anhydrase, chloride shift), carbamino, dissolved; Haldane effect.
  • Control of breathing: medullary & pontine centers; central vs peripheral chemoreceptors; Hering–Breuer reflex (concept).
  • Hypoxia types (hypoxic, anemic, stagnant, histotoxic); cyanosis; high altitude acclimatization; diving/pressure basics.

Renal hemodynamics & filtration

  • RBF/RPF; autoregulation (myogenic, tubuloglomerular feedback); filtration barrier; GFR determinants; inulin/creatinine concepts; clearance & filtration fraction.

Tubular handling & concentration

  • PCT bulk reabsorption; transporters (SGLT, Na⁺/H⁺, Na⁺/K⁺‑ATPase); Loop NKCC; DCT NCC; CD ENaC; water handling (AQP); glucose Tm & splay.
  • Countercurrent multiplier/exchanger; medullary gradient; urea recycling; concentration vs dilution of urine.

Acid–base & diuretics

  • Buffers: bicarbonate, phosphate, proteins; Henderson–Hasselbalch intuition; anion gap concept.
  • Renal acid handling: HCO₃⁻ reabsorption; H⁺ secretion; titratable acid & NH₄⁺; disorders (metabolic/respiratory acidosis/alkalosis) — primary change vs compensation direction.
  • Diuretics: sites & physiological effects (CA inhibitors, osmotic, loop, thiazide, K⁺‑sparing) — exam‑style associations.

Micturition & renal endocrine

  • Micturition reflex; compliance; incontinence types (urge/stress/overflow concepts).
  • Renin, EPO, 1,25‑(OH)₂‑D roles.

Day‑3 MCQs focus

  • O₂ curve shifts; V/Q & shunt; DLCO clues; clearance math; transporters & diuretic sites; acid–base compensation rules; micturition reflex.

Day 4 — Gastrointestinal, Endocrine, Reproductive, CNS & Special Senses, Temperature

Gastrointestinal (GI)

  • Saliva: composition; parasympathetic drive.
  • Gastric secretion: parietal cell H⁺ secretion (H⁺/K⁺‑ATPase), regulation (ACh, gastrin, histamine) & inhibition (somatostatin, prostaglandins); cephalic/gastric/intestinal phases.
  • Pancreatic secretion: enzyme vs bicarbonate components; CCK & secretin control.
  • Bile & liver: bile salts, bile acids, enterohepatic circulation; bilirubin metabolism (physiology level); gallbladder concentration.
  • Intestinal motility: swallowing phases; gastric emptying; MMC; peristalsis vs segmentation; ileocecal reflex; colonic haustrations & mass movements; defecation reflex.
  • Digestion & absorption: carbs (SGLT1, GLUT5), proteins (peptidases), fats (micelles, chylomicrons); vitamins; iron (DMT1, ferritin), calcium (vitamin D, PTH influence).

Endocrine

  • Hormone classes & receptors: peptide vs steroid vs amine; second messengers; nuclear receptors; hormone transport/binding proteins; feedback loops.
  • Hypothalamus–pituitary: releasing hormones, portal system; anterior pituitary axes; posterior pituitary (ADH/oxytocin) physiology; prolactin regulation.
  • Thyroid: synthesis (iodide trapping, organification, coupling), transport, actions; hypo/hyper physiological effects.
  • Adrenal cortex/medulla: zones (G/F/R) and products; RAAS; catecholamine synthesis & actions.
  • Pancreas: insulin secretion (KATP channel, Ca²⁺ influx), actions (GLUT4); glucagon; incretin idea; starvation vs fed states.
  • Calcium–phosphate: PTH, calcitriol, calcitonin; bone turnover basics.
  • Growth hormone & IGF‑1; circadian & stress influences; acromegaly physiology cues.

Reproductive

  • Male: HPG axis; spermatogenesis; testosterone actions; erection/ejaculation physiology basics.
  • Female: ovarian cycle (follicular→LH surge→luteal), uterine cycle; hormonal profiles; menopause changes.
  • Pregnancy: placental hormones (hCG, hPL, estrogen, progesterone); maternal physiological changes; parturition, lactation (prolactin/oxytocin).
  • Contraception physiology (concepts only).

CNS physiology (integration level)

  • CSF formation & flow; BBB concept; ICP basics.
  • Synapses & plasticity; learning/memory basics (hippocampus); limbic overview.
  • Motor systems: pyramidal vs extrapyramidal outlines; posture/tone; cerebellum roles; basal ganglia loops (direct/indirect concept).
  • Sensory pathways: dorsal column vs spinothalamic; pain modulation (gate control idea).
  • Sleep & EEG stages; RAS; circadian rhythm concept.

Special senses

  • Vision: phototransduction (rods/cones), dark adaptation; accommodation & pupillary reflexes; color vision concepts.
  • Hearing: impedance matching; organ of Corti; frequency coding; basic audiometry pointers.
  • Vestibular: semicircular canals & otoliths; VOR concept.
  • Taste & smell: basic transduction pathways.

Temperature regulation & environment

  • Hypothalamic set‑point; fever & pyrogens; heat loss (radiation, convection, conduction, evaporation); heat stroke/hypothermia basics.
  • High altitude/dive/space physiology — adaptation snapshots.

Day‑4 MCQs focus

  • Gastric H⁺ regulation; pancreatic/bile controls; iron/calcium absorption; hormone → receptor pathway matches; insulin secretion logic; LH surge timing; CSF/BBB; phototransduction basics; thermoregulation.

Rapid Revision (Last Evening)

  • Key curves: Hb–O₂ (shifts), CO₂‑Hb (Haldane), PV loops (lesion patterns), Starling, Frank–Starling.
  • Equations: Alveolar gas (PAO₂), A–a gradient (concept), Henderson–Hasselbalch, clearance (Cx = UxV/Px), filtration fraction, cardiac output (Fick), MAP ≈ CO×TPR.
  • Numbers to know: lung volumes & normals; ECG interval limits; renal transporters by segment; diuretic sites; normal hormones & feedback loops; DLCO trends.
  • Reflexes & centers: baroreceptor, chemoreceptor, Hering–Breuer, micturition; hypothalamic nuclei (simple mapping).

Practice Pattern (all days)

  • Timed MCQ blocks → immediate review → write one rule learned from each error.
  • Vignette flow: identify variable → pick governing principle/curve → compute/apply → choose first step.
  • Mini‑cards to carry: O₂ curve shifts; clearance/FF math; acid–base compensation rules; ECG interval/electrolyte changes; diuretic sites; gastric H⁺ regulators; endocrine axes; LH surge timeline; CSF flow; thermoregulation steps.
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