Generic Surgical Sciences Examination (GSSE) Syllabus
Curriculum domains
The Generic Surgical Sciences Examination (GSSE) syllabus (RACS Generic Surgical Sciences Examination (GSSE), current syllabus) is organised into 23 curriculum domains. PRIMEX maps every domain below to study topics and learning objectives so you can track coverage as you prepare.
The 23 domains
- Anatomy - Thorax & Mediastinum - Thoracic wall, mediastinum, lung, heart, oesophagus, breast and diaphragm anatomy.
- Anatomy - Abdomen - Abdominal wall, peritoneum, hepatobiliary, gut and retroperitoneal anatomy.
- Anatomy - Pelvis & Perineum - Pelvic bones, floor, viscera, vessels and perineal anatomy.
- Anatomy - Upper Limb - Shoulder girdle, arm, forearm, hand and axillary anatomy.
- Anatomy - Lower Limb - Hip, thigh, leg, ankle, foot and lower-limb vascular anatomy.
- Anatomy - Back & Spine - Vertebral column, spinal ligaments, muscles and the vertebral canal.
- Anatomy - Head & Neck - Neck triangles and viscera, and head/skull/orbit/ear anatomy (excluding CNS).
- Anatomy - Central Nervous System - Brain, brainstem, ventricular system, meninges, cerebellum and spinal cord.
- Physiology - Cardiovascular - Cardiac electrical activity, pump function, circulatory haemodynamics, perioperative fluid balance · 10 Q.
- Physiology - Respiratory - Pulmonary ventilation, gas exchange, regulation of respiration, pathological conditions · 10 Q.
- Physiology - Gastrointestinal - GI motility, secretion, digestion, absorption, liver physiology · 10 Q.
- Physiology - Urinary Tract - Fluid homeostasis, renal anatomy, electrolyte balance, acid-base, renal impairment · 10 Q.
- Physiology - Endocrine - Endocrine regulation, hormone physiology, pathophysiological conditions · 5 Q.
- Physiology - Metabolism & Nutrition - Energy metabolism, thermoregulation, metabolic response to injury, nutritional support · 5 Q.
- Physiology - Neurophysiology - Nerve conduction, neuromuscular junction, autonomic NS, blood-brain barrier, ICP · 5 Q.
- Physiology - Blood - Haemopoiesis, haemostasis, coagulation disorders, blood transfusion · 5 Q.
- Pathology - General Pathological Phenomena - Cell injury, adaptation, tissue response to injury, shock, sepsis, DIC.
- Pathology - Neoplasia - Tumour origin, carcinogenesis, invasion/metastasis, pathological diagnosis.
- Pathology - Immunology - Innate/adaptive immunity, MHC, hypersensitivity, transplantation, diagnostic immunology.
- Pathology - Microbiology & Antibiotics - Body flora, pathogenesis of infection, surgically relevant infections, antimicrobials, sterilisation.
- Pathology - Genetics & Molecular Biology - DNA/RNA, cell cycle, genetic abnormalities, Mendelian genetics, cytogenetics.
- Pathology - Pharmacology & Therapeutics - Drug groups by system, pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic principles.
- Pathology - General Pathology - General mechanisms underlying disease, laboratory medicine.
How PRIMEX maps to the syllabus
- Every domain above is mapped to PRIMEX study topics, so the curriculum tracker shows coverage domain by domain.
- MCQ banks draw from these same mapped domains.
- Spaced-repetition scheduling and progress analytics surface the domains where your coverage is thinnest.
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Frequently asked questions
How many domains does the Generic Surgical Sciences Examination (GSSE) syllabus cover?
The Generic Surgical Sciences Examination (GSSE) syllabus is organised into 23 curriculum domains on PRIMEX, each mapped to study topics and learning objectives.
What is covered in the Generic Surgical Sciences Examination (GSSE) syllabus?
The Generic Surgical Sciences Examination (GSSE) syllabus covers 23 domains: Anatomy - Thorax & Mediastinum, Anatomy - Abdomen, Anatomy - Pelvis & Perineum, Anatomy - Upper Limb, Anatomy - Lower Limb, Anatomy - Back & Spine, Anatomy - Head & Neck, Anatomy - Central Nervous System, Physiology - Cardiovascular, Physiology - Respiratory, Physiology - Gastrointestinal, Physiology - Urinary Tract, Physiology - Endocrine, Physiology - Metabolism & Nutrition, Physiology - Neurophysiology, Physiology - Blood, Pathology - General Pathological Phenomena, Pathology - Neoplasia, Pathology - Immunology, Pathology - Microbiology & Antibiotics, Pathology - Genetics & Molecular Biology, Pathology - Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Pathology - General Pathology.
Does PRIMEX cover the full Generic Surgical Sciences Examination (GSSE) syllabus?
Yes. PRIMEX is curriculum-mapped to the Generic Surgical Sciences Examination (GSSE) syllabus, so every domain and learning objective above is tracked across the question banks, study notes and curriculum tracker.