How important is Histo?

[GoldenSunGirl88]

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Hi everyone,

First year med student here 🙂
I am wondering how much visual histology (recognizing cells and pathogens in photos) is tested on the USMLE step 1? Is it considered a low yield topic?

Is factual knowledge of histology (where parakeratinized epithelium is, etc) more important?

Thanks,

Kyrie

 

[Sol Rosenberg]

Hi everyone,

First year med student here 🙂
I am wondering how much visual histology (recognizing cells and pathogens in photos) is tested on the USMLE step 1? Is it considered a low yield topic?

Is factual knowledge of histology (where parakeratinized epithelium is, etc) more important?

Thanks,

Kyrie

Disclaimer: I have not taken the exam yet, but I'm studying for it now 🙂

My impression is that you should expect a fair number of pictures of gross and microscopic cells and pathogens/pathologic processes (= pathology) on the exam.

The factual knowledge of histology is more low-yield except where it relates to the pathology (e.g. to understand the layers of the GI epithelium that are affected in U.C. vs Chron's, you need to understand the histology of the GI epithelium)

...but please note the disclaimer above 🙂

 

[lord_jeebus]

Disclaimer: I have not taken the exam yet, but I'm studying for it now 🙂

My impression is that you should expect a fair number of pictures of gross and microscopic cells and pathogens/pathologic processes (= pathology) on the exam.

The factual knowledge of histology is more low-yield except where it relates to the pathology (e.g. to understand the layers of the GI epithelium that are affected in U.C. vs Chron's, you need to understand the histology of the GI epithelium)

...but please note the disclaimer above 🙂

I agree; mostly significant as it relates to interpretation of pathology.

 

[Torquer]

over the course of time you tend to remember the basic things like which sort of epithelium is found where, what it looks like, random characteristics of cells in different stains etc.

but yeah as already mentioned, its the pathological correlation that counts most in the exam. and you'll see loads of pictures during your prep to get u familiarized with histology slides.
for now, a little depth wont hurt at all🙂