NEET PG Rapid Revision
Physiology One-Liners for NEET PG: Rapid Revision
High-yield physiology one-liners for NEET PG covering neurophysiology, cardiovascular, renal, respiratory and endocrine physiology.
MedNext Academy | 6 min read
Physiology One-Liners for NEET PG: Rapid Revision
High-yield physiology one-liners for NEET PG covering neurophysiology, cardiovascular, renal, respiratory and endocrine physiology.
Physiology: rapid revision one-liners for NEET PG
Physiology underpins virtually every clinical subject and contributes significantly to the NEET PG question paper. These one-liners cover the most testable facts from general physiology, neurophysiology, cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, gastrointestinal and endocrine physiology.
Each statement is a standalone fact that has appeared repeatedly in previous exams or represents a must-know physiological principle. Use these for rapid-fire recall during your final revision.
Must-know one-liners
- Resting membrane potential of a nerve fibre is approximately -70 mV
- The Na+/K+ ATPase pump moves 3 Na+ out and 2 K+ into the cell per ATP molecule
- Saltatory conduction occurs in myelinated nerve fibres and increases conduction velocity
- The absolute refractory period is due to inactivation of voltage-gated sodium channels
- The all-or-none law states that a nerve fibre either fires completely or not at all once threshold is reached
- Erythropoietin is produced by peritubular interstitial cells of the kidney
- The normal reticulocyte count is 0.5-1.5% of circulating red blood cells
- Hepcidin is the master regulator of iron metabolism -- it degrades ferroportin
- Intrinsic factor is secreted by parietal cells of the stomach and is essential for vitamin B12 absorption in the terminal ileum
- The oxygen-haemoglobin dissociation curve shifts to the right (decreased affinity) with increased temperature, increased CO2, decreased pH and increased 2,3-DPG
- Fetal haemoglobin (HbF) has a higher affinity for oxygen than adult haemoglobin (HbA) because it does not bind 2,3-DPG
- The Bohr effect describes the decreased oxygen affinity of haemoglobin at lower pH
- The Haldane effect describes the increased CO2 carrying capacity of deoxygenated blood
- The chloride shift (Hamburger phenomenon) occurs in red blood cells to maintain electrical neutrality during CO2 transport
- The normal cardiac output is approximately 5 litres per minute
- Stroke volume is determined by preload, afterload and contractility
- The Frank-Starling law states that the force of contraction is proportional to the initial length of the muscle fibre (within limits)
- The first heart sound (S1) is due to closure of the mitral and tricuspid valves
- The second heart sound (S2) is due to closure of the aortic and pulmonary valves
- The JVP a-wave corresponds to atrial contraction
- Cannon a-waves in JVP are seen in complete heart block and ventricular tachycardia
- The baroreceptor reflex is the most important short-term mechanism for blood pressure regulation
- Carotid body chemoreceptors respond primarily to decreased PaO2
- The sinoatrial node has the highest intrinsic rate of automaticity (60-100 bpm)
- Phase 0 of the ventricular action potential is due to rapid Na+ influx
- Phase 2 (plateau) of the ventricular action potential is due to Ca2+ influx through L-type calcium channels
- Dead space ventilation is ventilation without perfusion (V/Q = infinity)
- Shunt is perfusion without ventilation (V/Q = 0)
- The normal V/Q ratio is 0.8
- Surfactant reduces surface tension and prevents alveolar collapse; its main component is dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC)
- Compliance is the change in volume per unit change in pressure
- FEV1/FVC ratio is reduced in obstructive lung disease and normal or increased in restrictive lung disease
- The oxygen cascade describes the progressive fall in PO2 from inspired air to mitochondria
- GFR is approximately 125 mL/min or 180 litres/day
- Inulin clearance is the gold standard for measuring GFR because it is freely filtered and neither reabsorbed nor secreted
- PAH (para-aminohippuric acid) clearance measures renal plasma flow
- The juxtaglomerular apparatus consists of macula densa, juxtaglomerular cells and extraglomerular mesangial cells
- ADH (vasopressin) acts on V2 receptors in the collecting duct to insert aquaporin-2 channels
- Aldosterone acts on the principal cells of the collecting duct to increase Na+ reabsorption and K+ secretion
- The countercurrent multiplier in the loop of Henle creates the medullary osmotic gradient
- Glucose is completely reabsorbed in the proximal convoluted tubule by SGLT2 (and SGLT1) up to the transport maximum
- The renal threshold for glucose is approximately 180 mg/dL
- Gastrin is secreted by G cells of the gastric antrum and stimulates acid secretion
- Secretin is released from S cells of the duodenum in response to acid and stimulates pancreatic bicarbonate secretion
- CCK (cholecystokinin) is released from I cells of the duodenum and stimulates gallbladder contraction and pancreatic enzyme secretion
- Motilin initiates the migrating motor complex (MMC) during fasting
- Bile salts are reabsorbed in the terminal ileum (enterohepatic circulation)
- The rate-limiting enzyme in bile acid synthesis is cholesterol 7-alpha-hydroxylase
- Insulin is an anabolic hormone that promotes glucose uptake via GLUT4 in muscle and adipose tissue
- Glucagon is secreted by alpha cells of the pancreas and promotes glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis
- Growth hormone has anti-insulin (diabetogenic) effects and promotes lipolysis
- T3 is the more active form of thyroid hormone; most T3 is produced by peripheral conversion of T4
- The Wolff-Chaikoff effect is the transient inhibition of thyroid hormone synthesis by excess iodide
- The Jod-Basedow effect is hyperthyroidism induced by excess iodine in a previously iodine-deficient gland
- Cortisol is essential for the permissive action of catecholamines on blood vessels
- The zona glomerulosa produces aldosterone, zona fasciculata produces cortisol, and zona reticularis produces androgens (GFR = salt, sugar, sex)
- Oxytocin causes milk ejection (let-down reflex) and uterine contraction
- Prolactin is the only anterior pituitary hormone under predominantly inhibitory (dopaminergic) control
- The stretch reflex (myotatic reflex) is a monosynaptic reflex; the knee jerk is its clinical test
- The Golgi tendon organ detects muscle tension and mediates the inverse stretch reflex (autogenic inhibition)
- Upper motor neuron lesion causes spastic paralysis with hyperreflexia; lower motor neuron lesion causes flaccid paralysis with hyporeflexia
- Cerebrospinal fluid is produced mainly by the choroid plexus and absorbed by arachnoid granulations
- Normal CSF volume is approximately 150 mL; production rate is about 500 mL/day
- REM sleep is associated with dreaming, muscle atonia and desynchronised EEG (low voltage, high frequency)
- Non-REM stage 3 sleep (slow-wave sleep) is associated with growth hormone secretion
- Weber test lateralises to the affected ear in conductive hearing loss and to the normal ear in sensorineural hearing loss
- Rinne test is negative (bone conduction > air conduction) in conductive hearing loss
How to use these one-liners
Go through these one-liners topic by topic -- start with cardiovascular and renal physiology, which are the highest-yield sections. After reading each set, close your eyes and try to recall 5 key facts from that topic.
For maximum retention, pair these one-liners with a quick review of the relevant graphs (oxygen-haemoglobin dissociation curve, cardiac cycle diagram, renal clearance curves). Physiology is a conceptual subject -- one-liners anchor the details, but understanding the mechanisms is what gets you the mark.
Key mnemonics
GFR -- Salt, Sugar, Sex: the three zones of the adrenal cortex and their products. Glomerulosa (aldosterone/salt), Fasciculata (cortisol/sugar), Reticularis (androgens/sex).
CAMP helps you Remember: Calcitonin, ADH (V2), MSH and PTH all use cAMP as their second messenger.
Hot and Acidotic shifts Right (oxygen-haemoglobin dissociation curve): increased temperature, increased CO2, decreased pH and increased 2,3-DPG all shift the curve to the right.
Revision schedule
Physiology one-liners should be revised every 3 days during your preparation phase. Spend extra time on cardiovascular, renal and endocrine physiology -- these three together contribute the most questions. In the final week, do one complete run-through daily, focusing on the statements you keep getting wrong.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which physiology topics carry the most weight in NEET PG?
Cardiovascular physiology (cardiac cycle, haemodynamics), renal physiology (GFR, tubular function, acid-base), neurophysiology (reflexes, sensory pathways) and endocrine physiology (thyroid, adrenal, insulin) are consistently the highest-yield areas.
How do I remember all the hormones and their actions?
Group hormones by their site of production and learn them as functional units rather than isolated facts. For example, learn all anterior pituitary hormones together with their targets and feedback loops. Mnemonics help anchor the groupings.
Are graphs and curves asked directly in NEET PG?
Yes. The oxygen-haemoglobin dissociation curve, cardiac function curves, lung compliance curves and renal clearance graphs are all tested. You should be able to interpret shifts and identify abnormalities from the curve shape.
Should I study Guyton or just rely on revision notes?
For NEET PG, a focused textbook like Ganong or Sembulingam is sufficient for most students. Reserve Guyton for topics you find conceptually difficult. One-liners work best when layered on top of a solid conceptual base.
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