USMLE Step I Exam - Gastrointestinal 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. Many of the gastrointestinal topics covered on the exam are similar to the topics covered for the cardiovascular system. However, there are also some additional topics related to the gastrointestinal system that do not have a similar counterpart in the topics covered for the cardiovascular system. This means that the Step I Exam specifically covers gastrointestinal topics such as embryonic development, fetal maturation, function of organs and organ structure, gastrointestinal defense mechanisms, natural flora of the gastrointestinal system, perinatal changes, and the structure and function of the cells and tissue that make up the organs in the gastrointestinal system. The exam also covers topics related to the gastrointestinal system such as infections, immune disorders, and other types of disorders that might affect the gastrointestinal system, how the gastrointestinal system repairs itself and regenerates cells and tissue, how the gastrointestinal system changes as an individual ages, and methods for treating gastrointestinal diseases and disorders.

The types of gastrointestinal diseases and disorders covered on the exam include infectious disorders, inflammatory disorders, immunologic disorders, mechanical disorders, metabolic disorders, neoplastic disorders, regulatory disorders, traumatic disorders, vascular disorders, and other diseases and disorders that specifically affect the gastrointestinal system. Specific examples of gastrointestinal diseases and disorders normally covered on the exam include hepatitis, malocclusion, malabsorption, pancreatitis, perforation of the hollow viscus, portal hypertension, and many other similar diseases and disorders. These diseases, disorders, and topics do not necessarily include every topic that will be covered on the exam, but most of the questions regarding the gastrointestinal system will relate specifically to these topics.