Fetal Circulation or Respiration on the MCAT?

[sagtig]

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I was just wondering, the Kaplan books get pretty in depth about fetal circulation and respiration in the embryology chapeter, but those topics are not listed on the AAMC site as part of their topics list... so do we actually need to know it?

 

[txprodigal]

I was just wondering, the Kaplan books get pretty in depth about fetal circulation and respiration in the embryology chapeter, but those topics are not listed on the AAMC site as part of their topics list... so do we actually need to know it?

Yeah, I'd like to know the answer to this as well, because some of the questions in the 1001 EK Bio book also ask about the foramen ovale, ductus venosus, and ductus arteriosus.

 

[BloodySurgeon]

I would try to know the fetus circulation anatomy. There are about 6 little important differences which should take you a minute to learn, so why not just learn it? Just also remember inside the mother's womb the baby's lungs are not inflated and the gas exchange between the mother and the baby (common scenarios include Rh- mother and second Rh+ baby). Know about fetus Hb vs. adult Hb. Etc.

 

[olemissbabydoc]

I would try to know the fetus circulation anatomy. There are about 6 little important differences which should take you a minute to learn, so why not just learn it? Just also remember inside the mother's womb the baby's lungs are not inflated and the gas exchange between the mother and the baby (common scenarios include Rh- mother and second Rh+ baby). Know about fetus Hb vs. adult Hb. Etc.

I second this one. I actually did have a passage about fetal circulation on my MCAT, but after working in the NICU for a couple months, I knew this stuff cold from being "pimped". The basics aren't too complicated and you can score a couple extra points if you get hit with the info.

Know your germ layers too!!