25 July 2013. Historians did not mark anything significant in their record books about this day as nothing special happened on this day, according to them. That day just like any other day, holy Ganga donated tens of billions of liters of water to the sea. The same would have been the case with me also, but fortunately, I saw a post by one of my friends on Facebook, because of which I came to know that my first year MBBS exam results were out. It took just seconds to open a new tab in Google Chrome and open the website and enter my roll number. But life is not as simple as we think. My net setter stopped working. Adrenaline and all other stress hormones had a nice time inside my body. After half an hour, I got my internet connection back. Again the same steps i.e. open Google chrome and enter the roll number. A white sheet with black letters appeared on the computer. 70% marks and passed all subjects. My mother came to me with a cup of tea and asked why I was laughing. Even if I explained well, she wouldn’t be able to appreciate the depth of relief that I was experiencing. So I just said I got the ticket to enter second year classes. The burden of household work forced her to leave the scene without asking further questions. My experience would be helpful for first year MBBS students; as someone rightly said, when you plan to take a path about which you don’t have a good idea, do ask about the footprints of the adventurers who went through that path before you proceed. So let me share my first year MBBS experiences with you.
Anatomy : The most difficult subject in first year MBBS
Before reaching the college itself, I had an impression that anatomy would be the most difficult subject to deal with and first year MBBS syllabus would be very difficult. Later it was proved true. The initial days didn’t trouble me much as the portions were simple (general anatomy and physiology). Sleepless nights and nightmares started with the commencement of the upper limb part completion test. I thought only bones and attachments would be asked in the theory examinations. No seniors were there to advise me. I still remember that evening when its answer sheets were distributed. I got only 12.5 out of 40. I couldn’t even score 50%. The physiology department conducted one open book examination out of 50 marks. Albeit having an open book in front of me, I couldn’t score 50% marks in that also. Later I improved bit by bit and performed fairly well in the final exams.
Our dissection started after a small delay as our cadavers reached late. I was a little apprehensive when I reached the dissection hall for the first time. The smell of formalin was eliciting nausea. One of my friends fell down because of that pungent smell. He later wrote the article “Cadaveric Nightmare”. But later, I understood that a cadaver’s smell is better than some human beings’ smell. The mistakes that I made in gross anatomy were so funny. I gave so much importance to cutaneous nerve supply because it came in each chapter’s beginning pages. Neither the teachers nor the god himself gave me any idea about the examination pattern. What to study and what to be skipped???? Always this was in front of my mind. Later I realized that cutaneous supply is just 10% important as far as examinations are concerned. Nerve supply, actions, and clinical applications of large, prominent muscles are very important, like Pectoralis Major, Sternocleidomastoid, and Trapezius. I observed my teachers repeatedly asking certain clinical terms. Those clinical terms are well explained in the BD Chaurasia textbook of gross anatomy and the Vishram Singh textbook of gross anatomy. One of my teachers told me without Cunningham, anatomy is incomplete. Later I realized that advice is valid for a PG student rather than UG. For an undergraduate, B D Chaurasia or Vishram Singh is sufficient. Certain diagrams in these textbooks are weird. For diagrams, I used Gray’s Anatomy Student’s version. If you want to read Cunningham, well and good. But don’t get disheartened if you are not able to follow it. Attending the dissection classes is very important. That will give you a fair idea about the total anatomy. But you cannot see all the structures that have been described in your textbook. That requires time and a magnificent dissector. So it will be good if you collect dissection videos of Auckland or any other. The video of the upper limb itself costs around 3000 INR. Don’t worry. It is available on YouTube.
I still consider histology a boring subject. The reason for this aversion is the headache that I felt while observing slides under a microscope for a long time. But you should practice diagrams by drawing because a diagram will be asked to draw and explain in the final exam. I feel Di Fiore is the best textbook to study histology for an undergraduate. But to build good theoretical knowledge about microanatomy InderBir Singh’s textbook of histology is good. For osteology no need to purchase a separate textbook as it is well given in the gross anatomy textbook. Do give more importance to those bones which are used to identify the sex of a person. Holding the bone in an anatomical position and its attachments are very important. Try to learn the ligaments attached to each bone. Don’t forget to learn the relation between nerve and bone, if any, because injury to the bone at that site can cause damage to that nerve, ultimately leading to muscle paralysis (ex. Radial nerve in the spiral groove). Ossification is not that important, but still, ossifications of certain bones are the favorite questions of professors, especially those ossifications which can give a clue regarding age. Those who are more interested in osteology can purchase IB Singh’s textbook of osteology.
Embryology is interesting. If you learn it well, then you will find it easy to understand the gross anatomy also, as both are closely linked. Models are very useful in understanding embryology. Take help from teachers to understand certain portions like folding and formation of the peritoneal cavity. IB Singh’s textbook of embryology is sufficient for an undergraduate. Lanngman is also good. Radiology also comes under anatomy. There is no need to go in-depth because you will also deal with the same in the coming years. Just learn to tell whether the given x-ray is a P-A view x-ray or an A-P view and some more basic things. Surface marking needs practice. Group study is helpful here. Practice those questions given on a friend’s body toward the end of the gross textbook.
Without diagrams, anatomy answers won’t be complete. Don’t waste time by drawing diagrams for 2-mark questions, but do remember to draw diagrams from 3-mark questions onwards. Some teachers consider the size of the answer also. So elaborate on your answer and ask for a discussion of the questions after each exam. That will make you understand how to write an answer. Don’t forget to write clinical applications for each long answer question which can fetch more marks.
Physiology: How it carries on to second year MBBS
Physiology is very interesting. Without understanding physiology concepts properly, it is almost impossible to learn second year MBBS subjects like Pharmacology and Pathology. Immunity and respiratory physiology were my favorite topics. The only problem that I faced in physiology was everything for an undergraduate was not given in one textbook. Endocrinology was well given in Gannong, but for respiratory physiology and immunity, Guyton was better. The style of illustration in Gannong is not student-friendly but rather teacher friendly. Guyton is one of the best textbooks I have ever seen. So simple that even a kid can understand it. Students may face little problems in understanding the complementary system of immunity chapter. But don’t get disheartened. The same will become clear when you sit for the microbiology chapter. In medicine, everything will get repeated again and again. Immunity is very important as it is one of the branches in which many researchers are going; if you search more, you can see that so many Nobel laureates did their research in immunity. Best and Taylor, even though is a PG book, is good for UG, also. Understand the physiology of glands well because the number of patients coming to the hospital with hormonal problems is huge, especially thyroid and Insulin. Play with the BP apparatus, spirometer, ECG instrument, and other instruments of the physiology lab and try to become an expert. After all, medicine is not a theoretical profession. You need skills and should know how to deal with these instruments. Those skills will come only with practice and experience. The first time when I used a stethoscope, I couldn’t even get heart sounds (obviously, I didn’t get lung sounds also). Give more importance otherwise equal to physiology practical against the theory.
Biochemistry: My favorite subject in first year MBBS
Biochemistry was my favorite subject out of the three. For me, the molecular basis of diseases was the most interesting thing to learn. Do give more importance to those hormones and metabolic pathways which you would encounter more in clinics, like Insulin, Gout, Glycolysis, etc. Understanding the molecular basis will help you a lot to understand the disease and to become a good clinician. Many hereditary diseases that you study in biochemistry will be repeated in pathology next year. I used Harper and Vasudevan during my first year of biochemistry. Both are good books, and I rate Harper ahead of Vasudevan. Cholesterol synthesis pathway, LDL, and HDL metabolism are very important, especially in this era of atherosclerosis and other coronary artery diseases.
Since the time is short and the syllabus is vast, the best way to understand each subject is by paying maximum attention to lectures. This will help to build an image of the important topics and decrease the time needed to spend on each topic when you revise it. But life is not very simple. For me, it was the most difficult thing. Even if you can’t understand some topics or concepts, don’t get disheartened because you have plenty of time to understand it. Group study is an effective tool. You may think it is a waste of time because group studies usually end up in group talks. But believe me, you will remember more of those sentences and facts which your friend taught you during the group study time while you are in the exam hall. Second-year medical studies are much more interesting, courtesy of early clinical exposure. Seniors will be a great helping hand, especially in a medical college. Never hesitate to take help from them because their advice can sometimes be more useful than your teachers’ advice.
Before concluding, I would like to tell the first year MBBS students one more thing. Don’t forget to enjoy your life. Don’t hesitate to bunk a class once a week to watch a movie, but don’t miss a practical class.
My email: tinyphysician@gmail.com
My website: https://tinyphysician.com/
Comments (100)
Help ful
Many of the suggestions you have given is really helpful as I have tried them myself in first year. I also learned surface anatomy and osteology by group study, I liked your statement about smell of cadavers and the worse smell of some human beings.Thank you
Thanks for such guidence
Thanks for such guidence
Re: Help Ful
thankyou redo
thanks a lot . my allotments
thanks a lot . my allotments are yet to come. i ‘l keep these tips in my mind.
Extremely useful post for
Extremely useful post for First year MBBS students. They can’t afford to miss this one. I wish I had somebody to tell these to me!
Any tips to study smart..is
Any tips to study smart..is mbbs hard?????
the syllabus of MBBS is bulky
the syllabus of MBBS is bulky. But it is not very difficult.
why aiims syllabus is so
why aiims syllabus is so bulky
How to deal with hard
How to deal with hard supjects and topics,5 and half years ..isn’t it so frustrating!!!??am in 11..wat to do to get a better result for top colleges???!…
even though subjects are not
even though subjects are not very easy they are very interesting……. especially clinical subjects…All patients are unique…Their symptoms and presentations vary a lot even in the case of same disease….that makes the job of a doctor tough and thrilling…
Thankyou i thought no wil
Thankyou i thought no wil understand my problem how hard it is but thankyou fr u advice
thanks for the feedback
thanks for the feedback
Came across this very late…
Came across this very late….hav already experienced most of the things written here…m in terminal phase of my 1st year Mbbs…But its like…SO TRUE…I mean…I just want to say all similar things..lol
Thanks a lot for ur advice.
Thanks a lot for ur advice.
thanks for the feedback. Best
thanks for the feedback. Best wishes for a prosperous future…
Thnk u for ur advice
Thnk u for ur advice
Wow..!! It seems interstng
Wow..!! It seems interstng yet hard..
Thanks :-* m ready to face it
dear I am NAVDEEP I hope you
dear I am NAVDEEP I hope you remember me………plese contact me…email— navdeepsingh7195@gmail.com
Frankly speaking I find that
Frankly speaking I find that 1st year is very very vast..adding to difficulty first yr is reduced to 1 yr instead of1.5…stress management is very imp..
It’s very helpfull for me in
It’s very helpfull for me in my journy sarath
GOOD JOB
GOOD JOB
I just want to become a
I just want to become a doctor
U r great man!!!!thnx; I saw
U r great man!!!!thnx; I saw this page 1month before my exam i.e now:::::::::
I will reply u with good message on my results,,,bye
i hv very intrst to stdy mbbs
i hv very intrst to stdy mbbs and i m waiting fr my entrnc rslt plz pray fr me .
hey, i am going to join mbbs
hey, i am going to join mbbs this year. and i was so nervous about the vast syllabus but your article has broken it down for me. thankyou so much for sharing your ideas. this has helped me a lot.
best wishes!
thnx for advice bro..
thnx for advice bro..
Thanks for your advice.
Thanks for your advice.
thank you so much for sharing
thank you so much for sharing this wonderful experiance
Owesome
Owesome
Hi..i lyk to join mbbs nd
Hi..i lyk to join mbbs nd want to b doctor but I scored vry less marks in my 12th exm. Nw I cn join mbbs bt I dnt no hw I will complete my years. Its so vast. I need ur comments. Dnt no hw I wil do my mbbs with all clear. Plz I need ur comments whether I cn join in mbbs nd I can complete my studies r not. Plz I need ur points of view.
I got 68.6% in board xams.
I got 68.6% in board xams..droped for a year and cleared the entrances..study tip to toe u wil get it.:-)
With all regards thankyou
With all regards thankyou
thank u very much bro…irs
thank u very much bro…irs really very useful..
Thank u so much.it was really
Thank u so much.it was really helpful….
Thnxx for sharing this
Thnxx for sharing this wonderful experience…:))
I was a bit scared about
I was a bit scared about getting into MBBS but ur dam good article has changed my view ,nw m egarly waiting for my CET results…Thnk u soooo much
I have studied all the things
I have studied all the things you have given above.I will try to follow it.
it is a good 1………..
it is a good 1…………just wanna know ur marks in CET
Hi… Well i am going to join
Hi… Well i am going to join mbbs this year i don’t know how is it going to be… But i am hoping for the best… Thanx for sharing…. I just wish its not that difficult…
IT HELPED ME A LOD
IT HELPED ME A LOD
even I was really very scared
even I was really very scared before but after reading all the comments I feel that I can do MBBS
thank you 🙂
i am very thank full to you
i am very thank full to you for sharing this experience.
Thannx bro for ur advice.can
Thannx bro for ur advice.can u giv som tips to study effectively b4 10 days of exam .v hav exam on 17 th june
heyyy thanku so much….
heyyy thanku so much….
thanks a lot
thanks a lot
heyyy thanku so much….
heyyy thanku so much….
thnk u..
thnk u..
Thank you. I am goin to join
Thank you. I am goin to join mbbs this year. I was scared about anotomy. I thought it will be hard . Now i think if we are taking everything as simple, we can achieve it !
Thanks for the detail
Thanks for the detail guidence
I think it will be helpful in
I think it will be helpful in my upcoming first year mbbs course but I would like some other tips easily passed out specially anatomy
THANK FOR UR ADVICE:-)
THANK FOR UR ADVICE:-)
thanks
nice
thanks
nice
thank you so much, u were
thank you so much, u were very inspiring.
pls do write your every year experience after you finish them
pls send all your experiences of each after u finish them pls
lohithvarma@hotmail.com
wonderful
wonderful
I am really proud of u.iam
I am really proud of u.iam deeply wish to study mbbs.but….
not get the entrance..
Thank you very much for your
Thank you very much for your advice!
exceptional post.. Thankyou
exceptional post.. Thankyou So Much sir.
Great advice.But m still
Great advice.But m still apprehensive.Worked day and night to crack the entrance, I even took 2 gap years! I am not scared of vast Syllabus I am scared of my snail like sloooow speed
I have got a lot of queries!
I have got a lot of queries!
I’m a first year student, n i find physiology damn tough, Plus anatomy.
Anatomy thode time k liye yaad rehti h, fir bhul jaati hun 🙁
Physiology smjh ni aati. But biochemistry is good. M good at it.
Can eu help me somehow??
thanq so much for sharing ur
thanq so much for sharing ur experience.. I am going join mbbs next month and i am a bit worried about the bulky syllabii that have to be covered in a short span. can u please clarify me wheather it is possible for a student to overcome all these..vit all enjoyments as u said..
It is not very difficult to
It is not very difficult to overcome the difficulties of MBBS. It is really interesting
thnq for ur rly. Hope
thnq for ur rly. Hope everything will go well. can u plz suggest books that are preferred for a 1st yr student.
very impressive and helpful
very impressive and helpful for 1st year students. kindly advise me to purchase 1st year books for my son who joined this year.
Guyton or Gannong for
Guyton or Gannong for Physiology and Harper for biochemistry.
I have read your detailed
I have read your detailed article you have written for first year MBBS students which is still valid and useful. I have a small query that I am unable to join MBBS this year in TN medical colleges due to high cut off and more number of students in the same cut off and that I am planning to join PSG, Coimbattore next year paying capitation fee etc as I do not have that huge money at this moment. My cut off is 196 only.
In the light of the above context, I seek your advice that if I can join any coaching centres for first year MBBS (not AIPMT). If you know any center or individual who is giving pre-coaching for MBBS in Chennai so that I can face the first year without any fear or sleepless nights. I would like to see your many options / advices in this regard. Hope to have something of interest.
its my 1st year and i think
its my 1st year and i think your advice going to help me a lot
I have got admin in LHMC this
I have got admin in LHMC this year. I have 2 months holiday before commencement of the session. Is there anything i can study beforehand? Any specific topic or from some book? do reply
Please enjoy these days and
Please enjoy these days and keep away from academics because you will get limited time during your mbbs career to enjoy.
Thank you very much for ur
Thank you very much for ur information.
U study in which medical
U study in which medical college?
Ramya kiran
thank u
Ramya kiran
thank u
thanks for the suggestions.
thanks for the suggestions.
I REALLY APPRECIATE U TO
I REALLY APPRECIATE U TO SHARE UR XPEREINCE WID US…..THANQ U
i am in 1st year right now..
i am in 1st year right now…i faced many of the things which you mentioned about. thank you so much for your detail guidance.
how to study all subjects how
how to study all subjects how to understand them I m confused …so help me…… plzz…!
Thank u, your words are very
Thank u, your words are very helpfull
Thanks for the details…..
Thanks for the details…..
whta type qustion in this
whta type qustion in this year
Thank u for ur advice
Thank u for ur advice
I feel that I can improve much better
Thank U
The best part is that i can
The best part is that i can know who i am what do i belong to and what makes me a human though its going to be a lot more tougher than i think but its going to be interesting.Yaa the histology part may be a bit tougher.looking forward to it 🙂
Thanks for ur advice. I am
Thanks for ur advice. I am going to join MBBS this year. I want some tips to study.
Hi Sandra,
Hi Sandra,
Thanks for writing back. Feel free to contact me via email.
Thanks for sharing ur
Thanks for sharing ur experience… U made it simple…n thnks for telling wt to use ..books…
Hello Abhilasha
Hello Abhilasha
Thanks for writing back
Plz…tell me something more
Plz…tell me something more about…practicals…in mbbs..as…more imp is practicl knowledge..which..has to b gain in 6 yrs..
I scored 84percent in 12th.Do
I scored 84percent in 12th.Do i find easy to study mbbs?….whether i can complete The course without yearback?.i require few tips to love mbbs
MBBS is not very difficult if
MBBS is not very difficult if you work hard.
Am thinking of doing mbbs ths
Am thinking of doing mbbs ths year…but feeling very scary. …..regrdng tht its hard or moreover tough. ….plz help…n sujjest to take a step closer to it………..
thank u
thank u
Still fearing to face vast
Still fearing to face vast mbbs getting negative about it ,say something
“Good Job” Man, Helpful
“Good Job” Man, Helpful information !!
thanks da
thanks da
nice one ….now juz i got
nice one ….now juz i got seat…let me faceit…thank you
Awesome …. thanks for your
Awesome …. thanks for your advice
I’m sure that your advices r going to help me in my 1st year mbbs course ….. I’m v.excited as well as waiting with anticipation for coming danger at college
i just hav few days ahead of
i just hav few days ahead of me 2 step into ma clg…..i fear dat the lectures will be too fast for me 2 understand….will it be so????? the books wat u hav mentioned ….will it given @ government medical clg (TAMIL NADU)…..?????? or should we get it frm outside????
Thank you Sir for your
Thank you Sir for your article,it was inspiring…
Thanks Suhas for the feedback
Thanks Suhas for the feedback
Really very useful article
Really very useful article,thank u..
Thank You Bhavya for the
Thank You Bhavya for the feedback
complete list of medical
complete list of medical textbooks for m.b.b.s compiled by m. a. qureshi
1 clinically oriented anatomy by keith l moore
2 atlas of human anatomy by netter
3 grant’s dissector by sauerland lippincott william n wilkins
4 clinically oriented embryology keith l moore persaud
5 langman;s medical embryology t w sadler
6 basic histology luiz carlos
7 color atlas of histology by garter lp
8 wheater’s functional histology by young b
9 clinical neuroanatomy by goldborg m d
10 neuroanatomy an atlas of structures sections n systems
11 barr’s the human nervous system by kiernan
12 medical physiology by gyton n hall
13 review of medical physiology william f ganong
14 medical physiology by boron n boulpaep
15 harpers illustrated biochemistry by victor w rodwell
16 principles of medical biochemistry by meisenberg
17 goodman n gillman’s the pharmacological basis of therapeutics
18 basic n clinical pharmacology by katzung
19 pathological basis of disease by robbins
20 pathology by alan stevens
21 cmdt current medical diagnosis n treatments by stephen
22 davidson’s principles n practice of medicine
23 surgery scientific principles n practice by lazar j greenfield
24 essential otolaryngology head n neck surgery
25 basic ophthalmology a brad ford md
26 obstetrics n gynaecology by charles rb beckmarn
27 medical microbiology by mims
28 lippincotts illustrated reviews microbiology by william
29 medical genetics by jorde l b
30 kaplan + sadock’s synopsis of psychiatry
31 behavioral sciences n healthcare by sahler oj
32 immunology for medical students by nairn n helbert
33 study guide to epidemiology n biostatistics by mortom
34 quick n accurate 12 lead ecg interpretation by davis
35 bate’s guide to physical exam n history taking by bickley
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