Revision Notes for the MRCEM Primary

Revision Notes for the MCEM Part A has helped countless candidates to succeed in their emergency medicine membership exams. This fully updated edition is aligned with the latest MRCEM Primary syllabus. It comprehensively covers the core basic sciences relevant to Emergency Medicine, including newly emphasized topics such as clinical trials and statistics.

Structured in a concise revision-notes format, the book uses bullet points, lists, and tables to facilitate efficient learning and retention. This edition features enhanced anatomical illustrations, updated terminology, and revised guidelines to reflect current standards. New introductory sections clearly map each chapter to the RCEM syllabus, helping candidates navigate the curriculum with confidence.

Thoroughly revised and enriched, Revision Notes for the MRCEM Primary, Third Edition is an essential resource for all MRCEM candidates preparing for the primary examination.

Mark Harrison, Consultant in Emergency Medicine, Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust, UK,Joshua Pinedo, Specialty Registrar in Emergency & Intensive Care Medicine, Health Education North West, UK

Dr Mark Harrison graduated from the University of Newcastle in 2002, and trained in the North East of England. He has been awarded Fellowship by Examination of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, and the Academy of Medical Educators. He was appointed a Consultant in Emergency Medicine in 2011.


Dr Joshua Pinedo is currently a Higher Specialty Trainee in Emergency Medicine and Intensive Care Medicine in North West England. He has been awarded Fellowship by Examination of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine.

Section A AnatomyA1. Upper limbA2. Lower limbA3. ThoraxA4. AbdomenA5. Head and neckA6. Central nervous systemA7. Cranial nerve lesionsSection B PhysiologyB1. Basic cellular physiologyB2. Respiratory physiologyB3. Cardiovascular physiologyB4. Gastrointestinal physiologyB5. Renal physiologyB6. Endocrine physiologySection C PharmacologyC1. Gastrointestinal pharmacologyC2. Cardiovascular pharmacologyC3. Respiratory pharmacologyC4. Central nervous system pharmacologyC5. Treatment of infectionsC6. Endocrine pharmacologyC7. Fluids and electrolytesC8. Musculoskeletal pharmacologyC9. Immunological products and vaccinesC10. AnaesthesiaSection D Medical Microbiology: Principles of MicrobiologyD1. Natural and innate immunityD2. Mechanisms of diseaseD3. Controlling infectionD4. Principles of investigationSection E Medical Microbiology: Specific Pathogen GroupsE1. Streptococci and staphylococciE2. TuberculosisE3. Clostridial infectionE4. NeisseriaE5. PertussisE6. Klebsiella, Salmonella, Escherichia coliE7. Gram-negative gastrointestinal diseaseE8. LegionellaE9. PseudomonasE10. ChlamydiaE11. Herpes simplex and zosterE12. HIVE13. HepatitisE14. Measles, mumps, rubellaE15. Respiratory virusesE16. Gastrointestinal virusesE17. Yeasts and fungiE18. WormsE19. MalariaSection F PathologyF1. Inflammatory responseF2. Immune responseF3. Systems infectionsF4. Wound healingF5. HaematologySection G Evidence-Based MedicineG1. Evidence-based medicine