UPSC Medical Science Syllabus

The Medical Science syllabus for UPSC focuses on the candidates’ understanding of the basic concepts and application of knowledge to problems faced by patients. The topics included in this subject are related to basic medical knowledge, general medicine, and community medicine.

Medical Science Optional Subject has 2 papers (Paper I and Paper II) in UPSC Mains. Each paper is of 250 marks with a total of 500 marks.

UPSC CSE Medical Science Optional Paper I syllabus:

SECTION A

Human Anatomy:

1. Applied anatomy including blood and nerve supply of upper and lower limbs
2. Joints of shoulder, hip and knee.
3. Gross anatomy, blood supply and lymphatic drainage of
   1. Tongue
   2. Thyroid
   3. Mammary gland
   4. Stomach
   5. Liver
   6. Prostate
   7. Gonads
   8. Uterus
4. Applied anatomy of
   1. Diaphragm
   2. Perineum
   3. Inguinal region
5. Clinical anatomy of
   1. Kidney
   2. Urinary bladder
   3. Uterine tubes
   4. Vas deferens
6. Embryology:
   1. Placenta and placental barrier.
   2. Development of heart, gut, kidney, uterus, ovary, testis and their common congenital abnormalities.
7. Central and Peripheral Autonomic Nervous System:
   1. Gross and clinical anatomy of ventricles of brain, circulation of cerebrospinal fluid
   2. Neural pathways and lesions of cutaneous sensations, hearing and vision
   3. Cranial nerves distribution and clinical significance
   4. Components of autonomic nervous system.

Human Physiology:

1. Nervous system
   1. Conduction and transmission of the impulse
   2. Mechanism of contraction
   3. Neuromuscular transmission
   4. Reflexes
   5. Control of equilibrium, posture, and muscle tone
   6. Descending pathways
   7. Functions of cerebellum, basal ganglia
   8. Physiology of sleep and consciousness.
2. Endocrine System:
   1. Mechanism of action of hormones
   2. Formation, secretion, transport, metabolism, function and regulation of secretion of pancreas and pituitary gland.
3. Physiology of Reproductive System:
   1. Pregnancy
   2. Menstrual cycle
   3. Lactation
4. Blood
   1. Development, regulation and fate of blood cells.
5. Cardio-vascular
   1. Cardiac output
   2. Blood pressure
   3. Regulation of cardiovascular functions

Biochemistry:

1. 1. Organ function tests-liver, kidney, thyroid
   2. Protein synthesis
   3. Vitamins and minerals
   4. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP)
   5. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
   6. Radio-immunoassays (RIA)

SECTION B

Pathology:

1. Inflammation and repair
2. Disturbances of growth and cancer
3. Differentiation between benign, malignant, primary, and metastatic malignancies
4. Pathogenesis and histopathology of
   1. Rheumatic and ischaemic heart disease
   2. Diabetes mellitus
5. Pathogenesis and histopathology of
   1. Bronchogenic carcinoma
   2. Carcinoma breast
   3. Oral cancer
   4. Cancer cervix
   5. Leukemia
6. Etiology, pathogenesis, and histopathology of
   1. Cirrhosis liver
   2. Glomerulonephritis
   3. Tuberculosis
   4. Acute osteomyelitis

Microbiology:

1. 1. Humoral and cell-mediated immunity
   2. Diseases caused by and laboratory diagnosis of
      1. Meningococcus (Neisseria meningitides)
      2. Salmonella (Typhoid)
      3. Shigella (bacillary dysentery)
      4. Herpes
      5. Dengue
      6. Polio
      7. HIV/AIDS
      8. Malaria
      9. E. Histolytica
      10. Giardia
      11. Candida
      12. Cryptococcus
      13. Aspergillus

Pharmacology: Mechanism of action and side effects of the following drugs:

1. 1. Antipyretics and analgesics
   2. Antibiotics
   3. Antimalarial
   4. Anti Kala-azar
   5. Antidiabetics
   6. Antihypertensive
   7. Antidiuretics
   8. General and cardiac vasodilators
   9. Antiviral
   10. Antiparasitic
   11. Antifungal
   12. Immunosuppressants
   13. Anticancer

Forensic Medicine and Toxicology:

1. Forensic examination of injuries and wounds
2. Examination of blood and seminal stains
3. Poisoning
4. Sedative overdose
5. Hanging
6. Drowning
7. Burns
8. DNA and fingerprint study

Medical Science Optional Paper II syllabus:

SECTION A

General Medicine:

1. Infectious diseases: Etiology, clinical features, diagnosis and principles of management (including prevention) of
   1. Typhoid
   2. Rabies
   3. AIDS
   4. Dengue
   5. Kala-azar
   6. Japanese Encephalitis
2. Heart and Lung : Etiology, clinical features, diagnosis, and principles of management of:
   1. Ischaemic heart disease
   2. Pulmonary embolism.
   3. Bronchial asthma
   4. Pleural effusion
3. GIT and Kidney: Etiology, clinical features, diagnosis, and principles of management of:
   1. Malabsorption syndromes
   2. Acid peptic diseases
   3. Viral hepatitis
   4. Cirrhosis of liver
   5. Glomerulonephritis and pyelonephritis
   6. Renal failure
   7. Nephrotic syndrome
   8. Renovascular hypertension
4. Endocrinology, Hematology and CNS: Etiology, clinical features, diagnosis, and principles of management of:
   1. Complications of diabetes mellitus
   2. Coagulation disorders
   3. Leukemia
   4. Hypo and hyperthyroidism
   5. Meningitis and encephalitis
5. Imaging in medical problems
   1. Ultrasound
   2. Echocardiogram
   3. CT scan
   4. MRI
6. Psychiatry
   1. Anxiety and Depressive Psychosis
   2. Schizophrenia
   3. ECT

Pediatrics:

1. Immunization
2. Baby-friendly hospital
3. Congenital cyanotic heart disease
4. Respiratory distress syndrome
5. Bronchial pneumonia
6. Kernicterus.
7. IMCI classification and management
8. PEM grading and management
9. ARI and Diarrhea of under five and their management
10. Resuscitation of the newborn
11. Management of small for date or premature newborn

Dermatology:

1. Psoriasis
2. Allergic dermatitis
3. Scabies
4. Eczema
5. Vitiligo
6. Steven Johnson syndrome
7. Lichen Planus

Section B

General Surgery: Clinical features, causes, diagnosis and principles of management of

1. GIT
   1. Cleft palate and harelip
   2. Laryngeal tumour
   3. Oral tumor
   4. Esophageal tumor
   5. Bleeding peptic ulcer
   6. Tuberculosis of bowel
   7. Ulcerative colitis
   8. Cancer stomach
   9. Rectum
   10. Anus and Anal canal
   11. Peritonitis
2. Vascular Surgery
   1. Peripheral arterial diseases
   2. Varicose veins
   3. Coarctation of aorta
   4. Haemothorax
3. Hepatobiliary system
   1. Stones of Gallbladder
   2. Management of surgical conditions of Gall bladder and Bile ducts
   3. Splenomegaly
   4. Cholecystitis
   5. Portal hypertension
   6. Liver abscess
   7. Carcinoma head of the pancreas.
4. Urology
   1. Stones of Kidney, Ureter, and Urinary Bladder
   2. Renal mass
   3. Cancer prostate
5. Endocrine and Genital system
   1. Tumors of Thyroid Gland
   2. Tumors of Adrenal Gland
   3. Breast (Abscess, cancer, fibroadenoma, and adenosis of the breast)
6. Orthopedics
   1. Fractures of spine
   2. Colles’ fracture
   3. bone tumors
7. Others
   1. Endoscopy
   2. Laparoscopic Surgery

Obstetrics and Gynaecology including Family Planning:

Obstetrics

1. Diagnosis of pregnancy
2. Labour management
3. Complications of 3rd stage of labour
4. Antepartum and postpartum hemorrhage
5. Management of abnormal lie and difficult labor
6. Diagnosis and management of anemia
7. Preeclampsia and Toxemia of pregnancy

Gynecology

1. Cancer cervix
2. Leucorrhoea
3. Pelvic pain
4. Infertility
5. Dysfunctional uterine bleeding (DUB)
6. Amenorrhoea
7. Fibroid
8. Prolapse of the uterus
9. Management of Postmenopausal Syndrome

Family planning

1. Intrauterine devices
2. OC pills
3. Tubectomy
4. Vasectomy
5. Medical termination of pregnancy including legal aspects

Community Medicine (Preventive and Social Medicine):

1. Principles, methods, approach, and measurements of Epidemiology.
2. Nutrition, nutritional diseases/disorders, and Nutrition Programmes.
3. Health information Collection, Analysis, and Presentation.
4. Objectives, components, and critical analysis of National programs for control/eradication of:
   1. Malaria
   2. Kala-azar
   3. Filaria
   4. Tuberculosis
   5. HIV/AIDS
   6. STDs
   7. Dengue
5. Critical appraisal of Health care delivery system
6. Health management and administration: Techniques, Tools, Programme Implementation and Evaluation.
7. Objectives, Components, Goals, and Status of
   1. Reproductive and Child Health
   2. National Rural Health Mission
   3. Millennium Development goals
8. Management of Hospital and Industrial Waste.

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