books for biocem

[bolly01]

I wanted to get a head start on medical biochemistry, so I wanted to know what books I should buy.

Should I buy all the books on the list provided on the SABA website?

If not, then what books should I buy from that list?

What other books are needed for this subject?

Thanks!!

[wolfvgang22]

Why would you want to start trying to learn Biochem now? That's a second semester course..and you may not be emphasizing the high yield material you will need for the step 1 just reading the book. Don't break your head on biochem...if you do anything, start memorizing lower limb in netter's anatomy...if you do anything.
Most students here use Guyton's Biochem and the BRS for biochem.

[GFLIP]

Hey Bolly,
I'm a first semster going into second and I asked upper semesters what books I should get.... For biochem, I was told to get Lippincott's Illustrated Reviews : Biochemistry (http://www.universitybooksonline.com/cgi-bin/univpack1.cgi?ISBN=S0397510918-2&action=3&id=QvE0pEJxgt4AAE3NArg&refcd=null) (3rd edition) and BRS biochemistry...

Also, I agree with Wolf....
My advise to you is you should start studying when you get here because you're going to have plenty of time to study and it will be more efficient. Enjoy the time you have now and just relax. That's the advise many doctor's gave to me when I told them that I wanted to start studying before I got to the rock.

About that Guytons biochem...I think wolf meant Guytons Physiology. That's the books 2nd semester students use for Physio. Oh yeah, one more thing...Physiology is harder than Biochemistry here (in 2nd semester). Hope this helps....

I wanted to get a head start on medical biochemistry, so I wanted to know what books I should buy.

Should I buy all the books on the list provided on the SABA website?

If not, then what books should I buy from that list?

What other books are needed for this subject?

Thanks!!

[plabon]

ok thsi is probably a stupid question, but what is BRS? is it a brand like kaplan or some thing else? sould i get BRS for all the courses i take in saba? if so is there like a auther for this?? i am planning to get all my books from the saba online bookstore, can i get them there?
thanks

[GFLIP]

P,

BRS stands for Board Review Series. It's a review book for medical school subjects. They are useful for your classes and when you prepare for Step 1. They run about $30 (give or take a couple of bucks). I don't suggest buying one for all your subjects, but just for the major subjects like gross anatomy & histology (1st semester), physiology (2nd semester) <--I heard this one is a bible..., etc. Yes, they do have them on the online bookstore (www.universitybooksonline.com (http://www.universitybooksonline.com/)) but it is expensive.

ok thsi is probably a stupid question, but what is BRS? is it a brand like kaplan or some thing else? sould i get BRS for all the courses i take in saba? if so is there like a auther for this?? i am planning to get all my books from the saba online bookstore, can i get them there?
....oh yeah, I suggest getting them before you come down here. Hard to find them here.
thanks

[plabon]

thanks for the quick reply. is there a particular brand? i mean by a particular publisher etc? woldfgang, whats your take on this?
thanks

[BTH]

I wanted to get a head start on medical biochemistry, so I wanted to know what books I should buy.

Should I buy all the books on the list provided on the SABA website?

If not, then what books should I buy from that list?

What other books are needed for this subject?

Thanks!!

Salutations "bolly01":

Studying Medical Biochemistry? Wow, you are way ahead of the game there buddy. If I were you, I'd save all the braincells for Gross Anatomy first. I heard that course is a killer. I would also recommend getting the BRS for the major subjects. I've read tons of posts by people who swear by them. Ciao.

[Jones Johnson]

Don't break your head on biochem...if you do anything, start memorizing lower limb in netter's anatomy...if you do anything

Why do you say lower limbs, is that covered first? Any chance you would like to share what you covered in the first 6 or so weeks of anatomy? Thanks

[omega's]

From one of Wolf's earlier posts, lower limb is the first subject covered in Gross. It's also (IMHO), the easiest section to start with. Enjoy.

[wolfvgang22]

From one of Wolf's earlier posts, lower limb is the first subject covered in Gross. It's also (IMHO), the easiest section to start with. Enjoy.
Yes, lower limb is covered first. I honestly have no idea why...I'm just speculating, but perhaps it is thought to be less traumatic emotionally to dissect a human body from the bottom up...or maybe it is easier? For me, the blocks seemed to get easier and easier as I moved through the semester.
We have five blocks:

Block 1: Lower limb. This was hardest for me, maybe because it was all so new to have to memorize so much while getting adjusted to island life, the expectations at med school, an entirely different culture altogether than rural Texas. We only had two weeks in this block. A crash course, almost. Many failed this block.
Block 2: Upper Limb. Slightly easier than lower limb, I think only because I was finally gettting used to the island and school, and started to figure out how to study a little...and now we had 3 weeks in this and following blocks.
Block 3: Abdomen and Thorax. For me, this material was easier. Maybe it's because througout my prior education internal organs and systems were always stressed above muscles of the limbs. Also, I had progressed in my personal adjustment to this place. Finally got a study strategy that worked.
Block 4: Head and Neck The most interesting and easiest so far for me
Block 5: Eye, Ear, Nose, Throat, and Comprehensive Review Mostly review...so how well you do here depends largely on how hard you worked up until the final. Everything is on the final...and don't forget that embryology is taught along with anatomy here each block.

Now, right before finals I think I am finally putting things together so I can see the big picture in my courses. I wish I could have made more clinical correalations and gained deeper understanding earlier in the semester, but I was too busy memorizing stuff all the time just to score a decent mark. I think that is true for the majority of students. But it is a good experience to feel like I am finally understanding most of what I have memorized, however late in the semester. Only few students appear to be in danger of failing; many of us could fail the final exam and still pass...but that is because we worked very hard already.
Good luck
~W

[Cardinal]

Yes, lower limb is covered first. I honestly have no idea why...I'm just speculating, but perhaps it is thought to be less traumatic emotionally to dissect a human body from the bottom up...or maybe it is easier? For me, the blocks seemed to get easier and easier as I moved through the semester.
We have five blocks:

Block 1: Lower limb. This was hardest for me, maybe because it was all so new to have to memorize so much while getting adjusted to island life, the expectations at med school, an entirely different culture altogether than rural Texas. We only had two weeks in this block. A crash course, almost. Many failed this block.
Block 2: Upper Limb. Slightly easier than lower limb, I think only because I was finally gettting used to the island and school, and started to figure out how to study a little...and now we had 3 weeks in this and following blocks.
Block 3: Abdomen and Thorax. For me, this material was easier. Maybe it's because througout my prior education internal organs and systems were always stressed above muscles of the limbs. Also, I had progressed in my personal adjustment to this place. Finally got a study strategy that worked.
Block 4: Head and Neck The most interesting and easiest so far for me
Block 5: Eye, Ear, Nose, Throat, and Comprehensive Review Mostly review...so how well you do here depends largely on how hard you worked up until the final. Everything is on the final...and don't forget that embryology is taught along with anatomy here each block.

Now, right before finals I think I am finally putting things together so I can see the big picture in my courses. I wish I could have made more clinical correalations and gained deeper understanding earlier in the semester, but I was too busy memorizing stuff all the time just to score a decent mark. I think that is true for the majority of students. But it is a good experience to feel like I am finally understanding most of what I have memorized, however late in the semester. Only few students appear to be in danger of failing; many of us could fail the final exam and still pass...but that is because we worked very hard already.
Good luck
~W

Thanks for the break down, oh yeah good luck on the finals ;)

[Jones Johnson]

Yes, thank you wolfvgang22. It was exactly what I was looking for.

[omega's]

Wolfvgang22,

If you have a second, what are the blocks/exams like, time-wise? How many weeks per and do you take exams for all courses on the same day (I've seen reference to "Black Mondays")?

Thanks, in advance for more of your feedback.

[Jones Johnson]

Wolfvgang22:

Adding to Omega's post, what is covered in the lower limb (1st block) exam... Locate and describe functions?

Thanks again!

[wolfvgang22]

Block exams for histology are 50 questions, multiple choice, with both theory questions and images with questions. The first 20 are images. We get two hours for the test.
Anatomy we also get two hours, the test is also multiple choice for the theory portion.
Both of these are on computer, in USMLE style, and on Tuesday for 1st semester students, every 3 weeks in general.
The anatomy lab practicals are every 3rd friday afternoon and consist of 25 questions with 2 parts each. Usually it is
1. ID the structure and
2. give origin, insertion, action, innervation, blood supply, related structures surrounding the pinned structure.
We also get tested on x-rays and bones.
We get 60 seconds per question and rotate through the cadavers and x-rays.
Every Wednesday before the lab practical we take a mock exam run by students where we only have 30 seconds per question.

[omega's]

You'll want to know all bones and special sites (e.g., where muscles attach); origin, insertion, action of all muscles; paths of all nerves, veins, arteries (and branches; and relation of all these to each other. Netter's plates are a great want to get spacial relations and names of everything worth knowing (anatomically).

Have I missed anything?

Wolfvgang22:

Adding to Omega's post, what is covered in the lower limb (1st block) exam... Locate and describe functions?

Thanks again!

[omega's]

w22,

Thanks a million for all the particulars. I really appreciate the feedback.

Have a great one!

[brava]

For Anatomy class, I would try to stay with profeesor's notes. After All, there were only 2 questions on my step 1. Very low yield.

[clean_press]

what's up yall,

can anyone break down all the books we need for second term, I got the breakdown for biochem, what bout physio, ethics and med psy

thanks,

I want to spend the least money possible, since I was idiotic enough to buy every book they sold for first term and didn't use anything, except brs histo,

*** son ***

[js_paramedic_1979]

Second semester books:
Biochem - Lippincott 3rd. Ed.
Physio - Guyton, STARS, BRS
Psych - the powerpoints are enough, but you will use the required text during clinicals
Ethics - Bernard Lo

[wolfvgang22]

Second semester books:
Biochem - Lippincott 3rd. Ed.
Physio - Guyton, STARS, BRS
Psych - the powerpoints are enough, but you will use the required text during clinicals
Ethics - Bernard Lo
Hey J,
Hope you are enjoying the break. Many 2nd semesters said don't get the ethics book. What do you personally think? Is it necessary?
Thanks! :)