USMLE Step I Exam - General Principles

The USMLE Step I Exam covers a wide-range of general principles related to Anatomy, Biochemistry, Biology Behavioral Science, Micro-Immunology, Pathology, Pharmacology, and Physiology. The Step I Exam specifically covers biochemistry topics such as the structure of DNA, the process of DNA replication, processes for exchanging genetic information from cell to cell, the process of transcription of DNA into RNA, cell defects that might occur as a result of transcription, the process of translation and the defects that can occur as a result of translation, the structure and function of proteins, metabolic processes, metabolic pathways and diseases associated with metabolic problems, the process of biosynthesis, and other similar topics. The biology topics specifically covered on the exam include topics such as the structure and function of a cell's nucleus, plasma membrane, and other cell components, cell adhesion, the life cycle of a cell, cellular homeostasis, signal transduction, intracellular accumulations, intracellular sorting, the structure and function of various types of cells, the process that cells use to respond to injury, necrosis, and other similar topics. The behavioral science questions on the Step I exam specifically covers topics such as the human life cycle, development of motor skills, development of social skills, sexual development, social and psychological factors that affect patient behavior, communicating with the patient and his or her family, medical ethics, and professional behavior. The Micro-Immunology questions on the Step I exam cover information related to classifying and identifying microbes, bacteria and bacterial diseases, viruses and viral diseases, fungi and fungal infections, parasites and parasitic diseases, processes and principles of sterilization, and the pure culture technique.

The pathology questions on the Step I exam cover topics such as inflammation, reparative processes, neoplasia, biology of neoplasms, cell differentiation, cell proliferation, immunizations, immune disorders, innate immunity, immunogenetics, and other similar topics. The pharmacology topics covered on the exam include pharmacokinetics, drug action, the relationship between the efficiency and the potency of a drug, factors that affect how a drug functions, drug side effects, drug interactions, drug regulations, the effect of drugs on various cells, how microbes resist and react with antimicrobial drugs, the properties of autacoids such as analogs and peptides, and other similar topics. The Step I exam also covers information such as environmental adaptation, nutrition, fluid and electrolyte disorders, concepts related to medical measurements, concepts related to medical studies, and a variety of other similar topics. These topics do not necessarily reflect every general principle covered on the Step I exam, but rather the majority of the major principles that the exam covers.