The Victorian Regional Committee have partnered with hospitals in Victoria to bring weekly First Part Teaching via Teams.

These sessions are a great opportunity for Victorian trainees to have access to more teaching from different hospital and benefit from a range of educators and knowledge and resource sharing.

Please use the Microsoft Teams link to enter the session, running every Tuesday 11:00am – 12:00pm.

Tuesday 23rd September 2025

Topic: Ventilation-perfusion relationship, Diffusive transfer of respiratory gas, Applied physiology

 1. Describe the effects of Ventilation/Perfusion (V/Q) inequality on the partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) in arterial blood. 
 2. Describe the ventilation / perfusion (V/Q) relationships in the upright lung according to West’s zones (40%). Explain the physiological mechanisms responsible for these relationships (60%).
 3. Outline the physiological factors that affect the diffusion of oxygen and carbon dioxide within the lung.
 4. Describe the cardiovascular and respiratory effects of positive pressure ventilation.
 5. Explain the causes of the differences between measured end tidal and arterial partial pressures of carbon dioxide (CO2).
 6. Define dead space and its components (30% of marks). Explain how these may be measured (35% of marks) and describe the physiological impact of increased dead space (35% of marks).
 7. Define venous admixture and list its causes. (50% of marks) How is it diagnosed and how is it quantified? (50% of marks)
 8. Explain the concept of shunt, and the physiological effects of increasing shunt fraction.

Topic: TBC

Questions:
 1. Compare the structure, function and coronary circulation of the right and left ventricles.
 2. Briefly describe the cardiac events that occur during ventricular diastole
 3. Outline the structure of fast cardiac sodium channels and describe in detail how they work.
 4. Describe and compare the action potentials from cardiac ventricular muscle and the sinoatrial node.
 5. Describe the ionic events associated with a ventricular cardiac action potential (80% of marks). Outline how the action potential relates with the mechanical events of the cardiac cycle (20 % marks).
 6. Compare and contrast the mechanisms of action and toxicity of sodium nitroprusside and glyceryl trinitrate (GTN).
 7. Classify commonly used inotropic agents. (40% of marks) Outline four different mechanisms of action for inotropic agents. (60% of marks)
 8. Classify the anti-arrhythmic drugs using the Vaughan-Williams classification (30% of marks). Compare and contrast the electrophysiological effects of Class 1 anti-arrhythmic drugs (70% of marks).
 9. Using metaraminol, adrenaline and noradrenaline, illustrate the structure-function relationships of sympathomimetic drugs.

Tuesday 7th October 2025

Topic: TBC

 1. Define cardiac output. (10% of marks) Outline the factors that affect cardiac output. (60% of marks) Briefly describe the thermo dilution method of measuring cardiac output. (30% of marks)
 2 Describe the factors that determine right and left ventricular afterload.
 3. Define cardiac preload and describe its determinants.
 4. Define myocardial contractility and briefly describe dP/dT, the end systolic pressure volume (ESPV) relationship and the ejection fraction (EF)
 5. Discuss the regulation of cardiac output. Illustrate your answer by using a graph to describe the important physiological relationships.
 6. Discuss the determinants of venous return to the heart
 7. Draw and label a left ventricular pressure volume loop in a normal adult (40% of marks). List the information that can be obtained from this loop (60% of marks).
 8. Compare and contrast the supply and demand of oxygen for the right and left ventricle.
 9. Describe the physiological control of systemic vascular resistance (SVR)

Tuesday 14th October 2025 - NO SESSION RUNNING

Topic: TBC

Questions:
 1. Describe the cardiovascular changes that occur following the loss of 1000mL of blood in an adult. 
 2. Describe the baroreceptors and their role in the control of blood pressure. 
 3. Describe how Starling forces determine fluid flux within the pulmonary capillary bed.
 4 Describe how interstitial fluid recirculates to the vascular system. 
 5. Describe the regulation of the coronary circulation
 6. Outline the various cardiac reflexes and the mechanisms by which they maintain physiological homeostasis
 7. Describe the physiology of the Renin and Angiotensin system.

Tuesday 28th October 2025

Topic: TBC

Questions:
 1. Outline the circulatory and respiratory changes that occur after birth.
 2. Outline the physiological responses to anaemia
 3. Outline the cardiovascular responses to increasing intensity of exercise.
 4. What is the Valsalva manoeuvre? Explain the cardiovascular response and include graphs in your answer.
 5. Describe the effects of ageing on the cardiovascular system.
 6. Outline the factors that determine central venous pressure (60% marks) and explain how it is measured (40% marks).
 7. Describe the factors that affect mixed venous oxygen saturation.
 8. Compare and contrast two methods of cardiac output measurement

Tuesday 4th November 2025 - NO SESSION RUNNING

Tuesday 11th November 2025

Topic: TBC

Questions:
 1. Describe the physiological mechanisms by which the kidney is able to maximally concentrate urine 
 2. Describe renal handling of potassium (60% of Marks), including physiological factors that may influence it (40% of Marks) 
 3. Outline the functional anatomy of the kidneys (40% of marks). Outline the regulation of renal blood flow (60% of marks).
 4. Describe the physical principles of haemodialysis and haemofiltration, including the factors affecting clearance (80% marks). Outline the key components of renal replacement fluids (20% marks) 
 5. Describe the factors that determine glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in the kidney (70% of marks). Outline methods by which GFR can be measured (30% of marks). 
 6. Describe the role of the kidney in drug excretion and the factors affecting this (60% marks). Briefly outline how you would alter the dosing of a drug with high renal excretion in a patient with renal impairment (40% marks).
 7. Describe the relationship between creatinine clearance and serum creatinine. (60% of marks) What are the limitations in using serum creatinine to assess renal function in the critically ill? (40% of marks)
 8. Describe the role of the kidneys in the excretion of non-volatile acid.

Tuesday 18th November 2025

Topic: TBC

Questions:
 1. Describe the physiological consequences of the oral ingestion of 1 litre of water in a young adult.
 2. Outline the body fluid compartments (50%) and describe how each is measured (50%). 
 3. Describe the regulation of body water.
 4. Outline the distribution, absorption, elimination, regulation and physiological role of phosphate.
 5. Outline the distribution of calcium in normal plasma (20% of marks). Describe the hormonal control of the calcium concentration in the plasma (80% of marks).
 6. Describe the regulation of sodium in the body. 
 7. Describe the physiological role, distribution and regulation of potassium (K+).
 8. Outline the distribution, clearance and physiologic functions of magnesium in the body.

Tuesday 25th November 2025

Topic: TBC

Questions:
1. Classify the anti-psychotic drugs (25% marks). Compare and contrast olanzapine and quetiapine (75% marks). 
 2. Outline the neural pathways for the pupillary light, corneal, oculomotor and gag reflexes. The anatomical course of nerves is NOT required.
 3. Discuss the determinants of intracranial pressure (80% of marks). Outline how it can be measured (20% of marks).
 4. Describe the structure and function of the blood brain barrier.
 5. Outline the respiratory and cardiovascular consequences of an acute complete spinal cord transection at C6.
 6. Outline the physiology of excitation and conduction in nerve axons (60% of marks). List the factors which delay axonal conduction (40% of the marks).
 7. Describe the physiology of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) (60% of marks). Describe the anatomy relevant to performing a lumbar puncture (40% of marks).
 8.. Classify the mechanisms of action of anti-convulsant drugs (30% marks). Outline the pharmacology of sodium valproate (70% marks). 
 9. Compare and contrast the pharmacology of propofol and ketamine