FCPS Part 1 Surgery MCQs by Subject: Physiology, Pharmacology & Biochemistry

FCPS Part 1 Surgery and Allied is often assumed to test mostly clinical surgery, but Physiology, Pharmacology and Biochemistry are three of the largest subjects in HighYield's own Surgery question bank — and none of them has a dedicated post yet, even though General Surgery, Anatomy, Pathology and Endocrine already do. Below is a sample across all three.

Physiology

1. Which hormone is primarily responsible for stimulating gastric acid secretion in response to gastric distension and luminal amino acids?

• A) Secretin
• B) Gastrin ✅
• C) Cholecystokinin
• D) Somatostatin

2. In the baroreceptor reflex response to acute hemorrhage, the fall in blood pressure is detected mainly by receptors located in the:

• A) Carotid sinus and aortic arch ✅
• B) Renal afferent arterioles
• C) Atrial walls only
• D) Hepatic portal vein

Pharmacology

3. Which class of anticoagulant acts by directly inhibiting thrombin (Factor IIa), and is sometimes used perioperatively when heparin is contraindicated?

• A) Warfarin
• B) Direct thrombin inhibitors (e.g., dabigatran) ✅
• C) Aspirin
• D) Clopidogrel

4. Prophylactic antibiotics given before a clean surgical incision reduce surgical-site infection most effectively when administered:

• A) Immediately after skin closure
• B) Within 60 minutes before incision ✅
• C) 24 hours before surgery
• D) Only once infection develops postoperatively

Biochemistry

5. Which electrolyte abnormality is classically associated with peaked T waves on ECG, often audited in postoperative renal failure patients?

• A) Hypokalemia
• B) Hyperkalemia ✅
• C) Hypocalcemia
• D) Hypernatremia

6. The proliferative phase of wound healing depends heavily on which vitamin as a cofactor for collagen cross-linking?

• A) Vitamin A
• B) Vitamin C ✅
• C) Vitamin K
• D) Vitamin D

Don't Neglect the Basic Sciences

Candidates who treat Physiology, Pharmacology and Biochemistry as MBBS-level revision and drill only clinical surgery topics consistently under-perform — at FCPS Part 1 depth, these subjects are tested with the same rigour as General Surgery itself.

HighYield's FCPS Part 1 Surgery and Allied question bank covers every subject in the paper, each question explained. See our FCPS Surgery syllabus guide for the full breakdown by group, or check the most repeated FCPS Part 1 Surgery MCQs to prioritise your revision. Try the first 20 questions free, no sign-in required.