How high yield is embryology?

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.

WalterDandy

Full Member
10+ Year Member
15+ Year Member
Joined
Jan 17, 2008
Messages
29
Reaction score
0
Just wanted to ask recent test takers how much embryology is really necessary? I can see how a question could be phrased about cardiac or GI malformations but would you say it is absolutely essential to know the whole of embryology inside out or can you get away with just knowing the important clinical correlates?

Thanks in advance.🙂
 
Well, the embryo questions in my exam were superficial. I used HY embryology. Even this book is not quite detailed and doesn't go any deep.
 
Thanks rox, that's good to know. I don't think I could find the energy to stray too far from HY Embryology!
 
I didn't bother myself with HY.
I used mainly FA & embryology section in Kaplan Qbank and UW and occasionally Moor for reference.
I thought it was more than enough.

GL :luck:
 
We don't have an embryology class at my school and FA hit all the questions (and I only studied it for about 4 hours!)...😀
 
I had 2 embryo questions. Neither were in FA but both were in BRS Embryo (which I don't recommend over HY, but I bought one for $2 so I couldn't justify buying another book for this subject).

I know people who got a lot of embryo, but this is rare. I would not study this subject beyond HY, and unless you're shooting for a very high score, it may be better to stick with FA and do some additional studying in a better subject.
 
I had one or two, very superficial, basic stuff. The classic "this becomes what?" type of questions.
 
Thanks for your replies people! THis is really useful to know, its a massive help. I'm only 2 weeks into to my study program and I'm not sitting until June but I need to get a good score. I dont want to waste too much time on low yield minutiae if I can help it!🙂
 
Good luck WalterDandy. hopefully, you won't encounter much embyo questions.
 
FA covered most, though not all, embryo qs on my test. I had a question about Robin Pierre sequence that I would not have known if I had not had some substantial experience in paeds. I had about 8-10 embryo qs. I did not use any resources other than FA for both Anatomy, Histology and Embryology and got asterisks in all three of these. (Also an asterisk in Cell Bio, but I did use HY Cell&Mole Bio 1999 edition).
 
So it seems like it might be most useful to skip HY Embryo and just use FA??

It seems to me that perhaps the time spent on HY Embryo might just be better spent doing others things, such as BRS Path for instance.

Thoughts?
 
It depends on the kind of score you are looking for, and your aversion to risk.

Again, I know a few people who got LOTS of embryo, although most people did not.

what is 'lots', lord_jeebus? just wondering... thanks.
 
What are people's thoughts on HY Embryo 1st edition (which is considerably shorter) vs HY Embryo 2nd edition??

[say the right things, and the 1st edition will be selling for $300 on ebay tomorrow... ;-) ]
 
I used a copy of BRS Embryo from the mid-90s that I bought for a dollar and it was fine. 1st ed. of HY should also be fine - there haven't been groundbreaking developments in the field.
 
Top