USMLE Step I Exam - Cardiovascular System

The USMLE Step I Exam, in addition to covering general principles related to various scientific fields, covers a wide range of information regarding the major systems of the body. The exam primarily focuses on the normal operations of each system, the disorders, diseases, and other abnormal conditions that might affect each system, how to treat each system if there is a problem, and what factors might affect the patient's treatment. The Step I Exam specifically covers information related to the cardiovascular system such as embryonic development, fetal maturation, function of organs and organ structure, perinatal changes, and the structure and function of the cells and tissue that make up the organs in the cardiovascular system. The exam also covers cardiovascular topics such as infections, immune disorders, and other types of disorders that might affect the cardiovascular system, how the cardiovascular system repairs itself and regenerates cells and tissue, how the cardiovascular system changes as an individual ages, and methods for treating cardiovascular diseases and disorders. The types of cardiovascular diseases and disorders covered on the exam include congenital disorders, infectious disorders, inflammatory disorders, immunologic disorders, mechanical disorders, metabolic disorders, neoplastic disorders, regulatory disorders, traumatic disorders, vascular disorders, and diseases that specifically affect the cardiovascular system. Specific examples of cardiovascular diseases and disorders normally covered on the exam include diseases such as amyloidosis and scleroderma, and disorders such as acute rheumatic fever, dysrhythmias, endocarditis, myocarditis, pericarditis, temporal arteritis, and many other similar diseases and disorders. The diseases, disorders, and other topics mentioned here do not necessarily include every topic that will be covered on the exam, but most of the questions regarding the cardiovascular system will relate specifically to these topics.