MBBS
MBBS First-Year Subjects: A Complete Guide (NMC CBME)
MBBS first year covers three core pre-clinical subjects: Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, alongside AETCOM and early clinical exposure under the NMC CBME curriculum.
MedNext Editorial Team | Jul 18, 2026 | 8 min read
MBBS First-Year Subjects: A Complete Guide (NMC CBME)
MBBS first year covers three core pre-clinical subjects: Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, alongside AETCOM and early clinical exposure under the NMC CBME curriculum.
Under the NMC Competency-Based Medical Education (CBME) curriculum, MBBS first year belongs to Phase I, the pre-clinical phase. Three core subjects form its foundation: Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry. These run alongside early clinical exposure and longitudinal programmes including the AETCOM module and the Family Adoption Programme. The first professional examination is held at the end of Phase I.
How the NMC CBME curriculum organises MBBS
The National Medical Commission redesigned the MBBS curriculum around competencies rather than time-in-seat. The programme is divided into phases:
- **Phase I (Pre-clinical):** First professional year. Covers Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry.
- **Phase II (Para-clinical/Clinical):** Second and part of the third professional year.
- **Phase III Part I and Part II (Clinical):** Remainder of the third year through to internship.
Each subject in Phase I is mapped to NMC competency codes. Students are expected to demonstrate defined competencies rather than simply pass written papers. Internal assessments, formative work and the Foundation Course all contribute to progression.
The Foundation Course runs at the very start of MBBS and introduces study skills, basic patient communication, basic life support and an orientation to hospital systems. It is a prerequisite before core Phase I teaching begins.
The three core first-year MBBS subjects
Anatomy
Anatomy is the study of the structure of the human body. In Phase I, it is taught across four broad domains:
- **Gross anatomy:** The macroscopic structure of regions and organs, studied through dissection and prosection. Major regions covered include the upper limb, lower limb, thorax, abdomen, pelvis, head and neck.
- **Histology:** The microscopic structure of tissues and organs. Students study slides of epithelium, connective tissue, muscle, nerve and the major organ systems.
- **Embryology:** The development of the human body from fertilisation through organogenesis. Understanding developmental anatomy helps explain congenital anomalies seen in clinical practice.
- **Neuroanatomy:** The structure of the central and peripheral nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord, cranial nerves and major tracts. Neuroanatomy has direct clinical relevance in localising lesions.
Anatomy has the largest content volume in Phase I. Dissection classes are compulsory and form a core part of practical assessments.
Physiology
Physiology explains how the body works. The Phase I syllabus covers all major body systems:
- **General physiology:** Cell physiology, membrane transport, body fluid compartments and homeostasis.
- **Blood and haematology:** Blood composition, haematopoiesis, coagulation and blood groups.
- **Cardiovascular system:** Cardiac cycle, blood pressure regulation, electrocardiography and circulatory control.
- **Respiratory system:** Mechanics of breathing, lung volumes, gas exchange and control of respiration.
- **Gastrointestinal system:** Digestion, absorption and gastrointestinal motility.
- **Renal physiology:** Nephron function, urine formation, acid-base balance and fluid regulation.
- **Endocrinology:** Hormonal control of metabolism, growth, reproduction and stress response.
- **Nervous system:** Neuronal signalling, sensory and motor pathways, autonomic nervous system and special senses.
- **Reproductive physiology:** Male and female reproductive cycles, pregnancy and lactation.
Physiology practicals include haematological experiments, ECG recording, spirometry and reflex testing. These are examined separately from theory.
Biochemistry
Biochemistry bridges chemistry and medicine. The Phase I syllabus covers:
- **Biomolecules:** Structure and function of carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and nucleic acids.
- **Enzymology:** Enzyme kinetics, cofactors, inhibition and clinical applications of enzyme assays.
- **Metabolism:** Glycolysis, citric acid cycle, oxidative phosphorylation, glycogen metabolism, lipid metabolism, amino acid catabolism and the urea cycle. Metabolic disorders such as diabetes, phenylketonuria and glycogen storage diseases are introduced here.
- **Molecular biology and genetics:** DNA replication, transcription, translation, gene regulation and an introduction to recombinant DNA technology.
- **Clinical biochemistry:** Interpretation of liver function tests, kidney function tests, lipid profiles and other biochemical investigations used in clinical practice.
- **Nutrition:** Vitamins, minerals, dietary requirements and deficiency states.
Biochemistry practicals include qualitative tests for biomolecules, enzyme assays and interpretation of clinical laboratory data.
AETCOM and other longitudinal modules
The NMC CBME curriculum includes several programmes that run throughout MBBS rather than belonging to a single phase.
- **AETCOM (Attitude, Ethics and Communication):** A longitudinal module that teaches professionalism, medical ethics, communication skills and the doctor-patient relationship. It begins in Phase I and continues across all phases. AETCOM is assessed separately and students must satisfy its requirements to progress.
- **Family Adoption Programme:** Students are assigned to a family in the community and follow that family across their MBBS years, observing health determinants, illness and healthcare-seeking behaviour in a real-world context.
- **Early Clinical Exposure:** Phase I students attend clinical postings even before the para-clinical and clinical phases begin. This contextualises pre-clinical learning by connecting it to patient care from the first year.
- **Sports and extracurricular activities:** Built into the timetable as a formal requirement.
How first-year MBBS examinations work
The first professional examination (First Prof) is held at the end of Phase I. It covers all three core subjects: Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry. Each subject has theory and practical components examined separately.
Internal assessment marks are collected continuously across Phase I through tests, viva voce and practical performance. These marks contribute to the final result. Students must meet the minimum attendance and internal assessment requirements set by their university before they are permitted to sit the university examination.
For exact marks distribution, passing criteria, supplementary examination schedules and university-specific rules, students should refer directly to their medical college and their affiliating university regulations, as well as the official NMC CBME guidelines. These details vary between universities and are updated periodically.
How to study first-year MBBS effectively
Phase I is demanding because the content volume is high and the clinical relevance is not always immediately obvious. The following approaches are consistently effective:
- **Anchor pre-clinical content to clinical applications.** Understanding why the brachial plexus matters clinically, or why a metabolic block causes a specific disease, makes anatomy and biochemistry stick far better than rote memorisation.
- **Use your dissection sessions actively.** Dissection is irreplaceable for spatial understanding of anatomy. Supplement it with radiological images and cross-sectional diagrams.
- **Do not neglect histology and embryology.** These are frequently underweighted during the year and then under-prepared for exams. Dedicate regular slots to slides and developmental sequences.
- **Integrate subjects where they overlap.** The cardiovascular chapter in Physiology and the thorax in Anatomy overlap substantially. Studying them alongside each other reduces total learning time.
- **Practice MCQs throughout the year, not just before exams.** The first professional exam includes MCQ components, and regular practice builds both speed and the habit of applying knowledge rather than recalling it passively.
- **Use NMC competency codes as a study checklist.** Each competency in the CBME curriculum defines what you must be able to do. Working through competency codes systematically ensures nothing is missed.
- **Attend AETCOM sessions seriously.** Students who treat AETCOM as a peripheral subject often find themselves under-prepared for its assessments. The communication and ethics content is tested throughout MBBS and is directly relevant to clinical work.
MedNext maps its content across 19 MBBS subjects and 410 chapters to NMC competency codes, covering all three Phase I subjects. Study modes and practice MCQs are available for Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry. Content is written by clinicians; AI is used as a study support tool only, not as a clinical or educational authority.
Key facts at a glance
- MBBS Phase I is the first professional year under the NMC CBME curriculum.
- Three core subjects: Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry.
- Anatomy covers gross anatomy, histology, embryology and neuroanatomy.
- Physiology covers all major body systems with theory and practical components.
- Biochemistry covers metabolism, molecular biology and clinical biochemistry.
- AETCOM runs longitudinally across all MBBS phases from Phase I onwards.
- The Family Adoption Programme and early clinical exposure begin in Phase I.
- The Foundation Course is completed before Phase I teaching begins.
- The first professional examination is held at the end of Phase I.
- Internal assessment marks are collected continuously and contribute to the final result.
- For exact marks, passing criteria and exam schedules, refer to your university regulations and the NMC CBME guidelines.