Primary FRCA Examination Syllabus

Curriculum domains

The Primary FRCA Examination syllabus (Royal College of Anaesthetists Primary FRCA syllabus (PRIMEX-authored, 384 LOs)) is organised into 26 curriculum domains. PRIMEX maps every domain below to study topics and learning objectives so you can track coverage as you prepare.

The 26 domains

• PHYSCELL - Cellular & general physiology - Cell membrane, organelles, receptors, membrane transport, body fluid compartments, ion channels, apoptosis, homeostasis.
• PHYSBLOOD - Blood, haematology & immunology - Blood constituents, haemoglobin and oxygen carriage, haemostasis and coagulation, blood groups, immune response, inflammation.
• PHYSCVS - Cardiovascular physiology - Cardiac cycle, cardiac output and its control, myocardial contractility, vascular function, regional circulations, microcirculation, Starling forces, baroreflex.
• PHYSRESP - Respiratory physiology - Lung volumes, mechanics and compliance, ventilation and perfusion, gas exchange and transport, control of breathing, oxygen cascade, dead space and shunt, non-respiratory functions.
• PHYSRENAL - Renal & fluid physiology - Nephron function, GFR and clearance, tubular transport, acid-base balance, sodium/potassium/water handling, osmoregulation, micturition.
• PHYSNEURO - Neurophysiology & muscle - Neuronal function, synaptic transmission, CSF and ICP, pain pathways, autonomic nervous system, special senses, skeletal/smooth/cardiac muscle, neuromuscular junction.
• PHYSMETAB - Liver, GI, endocrine & metabolism - Hepatic and GI physiology, nutrition and metabolism, endocrine glands and hormones, glucose homeostasis, thermoregulation, stress response.
• PHYSSPEC - Physiology of special situations - Maternal and fetal physiology, neonatal and paediatric physiology, physiology of ageing, altitude, diving, exercise, obesity.
• PHARMPRIN - Pharmacological principles - Pharmacokinetics, compartment models, pharmacodynamics, drug-receptor interaction, dose-response, isomerism, variability, drug interactions, adverse reactions.
• PHARMIV - Intravenous anaesthetic & sedative agents - Propofol, thiopental, ketamine, etomidate, benzodiazepines, TIVA and target-controlled infusion, context-sensitive half-time.
• PHARMINH - Inhalational agents & medical gases - Volatile agents (sevoflurane, isoflurane, desflurane), nitrous oxide, MAC, uptake and distribution, oxygen, entonox, heliox.
• PHARMANALG - Analgesics - Opioids and receptors, morphine and derivatives, remifentanil, NSAIDs, paracetamol, tramadol, adjuvant analgesics, tolerance and dependence.
• PHARMLA - Local anaesthetics - Mechanism, structure-activity, pharmacokinetics, individual agents, local anaesthetic systemic toxicity, adjuncts.
• PHARMNMB - Neuromuscular blockers & reversal - Depolarising and non-depolarising blockers, suxamethonium, rocuronium/vecuronium/atracurium, anticholinesterases, sugammadex, monitoring.
• PHARMCVS - Cardiovascular & autonomic drugs - Sympathomimetics, inotropes and vasopressors, antihypertensives, antiarrhythmics, beta-blockers, calcium antagonists, anticoagulants and antiplatelets, diuretics.
• PHARMOTHER - Drugs acting on other systems - Antiemetics, gastric protection, corticosteroids, antidiabetics, respiratory drugs, anticonvulsants, antimicrobials, intravenous fluids and blood products.
• PHYSICS - Physical principles - SI units, mathematical concepts, pressure and force, gas laws, flow (laminar and turbulent), humidity, heat and temperature, solubility and diffusion, resonance and damping.
• EQUIP - Anaesthetic equipment - Medical gas supply and cylinders, anaesthetic machine, breathing systems, vaporisers, ventilators, scavenging, airway devices, suction.
• MEASURE - Clinical measurement & monitoring - ECG, invasive and non-invasive blood pressure, pulse oximetry, capnography, gas and vapour analysis, neuromuscular monitoring, depth of anaesthesia, temperature, cardiac output measurement.
• SAFETY - Electrical safety, ultrasound & sterilisation - Electrical safety and diathermy, defibrillators, lasers, ultrasound principles, cleaning and sterilisation, fire and theatre safety.
• STATS - Data & statistics - Data types, descriptive statistics, distributions, sampling, hypothesis testing, error types and power, sensitivity and specificity, study design, evidence appraisal.
• ANATAIRWAY - Airway & respiratory anatomy - Nose, pharynx, larynx, trachea and bronchi, lungs and pleura, diaphragm, anatomy relevant to airway management and cricothyroidotomy.
• ANATCVS - Cardiovascular anatomy & access - Heart and great vessels, coronary circulation, central and peripheral venous access, arterial anatomy.
• ANATNEURAX - Vertebral column & neuraxial anatomy - Vertebral column, spinal cord and meninges, epidural and subarachnoid space, dermatomes, anatomy for neuraxial blockade.
• ANATNERVE - Peripheral & cranial nerve anatomy - Brachial plexus, lumbosacral plexus, nerves of the limbs, cranial nerves, base of skull, anatomy for regional blocks.
• ANATABDO - Abdominal, pelvic & surface anatomy - Abdominal wall and viscera relevant to blocks, pelvis, surface anatomy for procedures, autonomic anatomy.

How PRIMEX maps to the syllabus

• Every domain above is mapped to PRIMEX study topics, so the curriculum tracker shows coverage domain by domain.
• Question banks, AI-graded SAQ practice and viva or OSCE simulation draw from these same mapped domains.
• Spaced-repetition scheduling and progress analytics surface the domains where your coverage is thinnest.

Frequently asked questions