National Board of
Medical Examiners
Of the United States of America
___________________________________________________________________________________________
SUBJECT EXAMINATIONS
Content Outlines and Sample Items
Basic Sciences – Paper and Web Versions
Comprehensive Basic Science – Paper and Web Versions
Clinical Science – Paper Version only
Comprehensive Clinical Science – Paper Version only
Introduction to Clinical Diagnosis – Paper and Web Versions
___________________________________________________________________________________________
March 2010
, TABLE OF CONTENTS
Basic Science Subject Examinations*
Behavioral Sciences 1
Biochemistry 8
Gross Anatomy and Embryology 14
Histology and Cell Biology 20
Microbiology 26
Neuroscience 32
Pathology 38
Pharmacology 44
Physiology 50
Clinical Science Subject Examinations
Clinical Neurology 56
Family Medicine 63
Medicine 70
Obstetrics & Gynecology 77
Pediatrics 83
Psychiatry 90
Surgery 97
Introduction to Clinical Diagnosis Subject Examinations* 103
Comprehensive Subject Examinations
Comprehensive Basic Science Examination* 109
Comprehensive Clinical Science Examination 115
*Exams available in the web format
Copyright © 2003, 2008 by the National Board of Medical Examiners® (NBME®)
, BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
Progression through life cycle 1%B5%
Psychological and social factors influencing patient behavior 5%B10%
Patient interviewing, consultation, and interactions with the family 10%B15%
Medical ethics, jurisprudence, and professional behavior 5%B10%
Nutrition including vitamin deficiencies and eating disorders 1%B5%
Central & peripheral nervous systems 50%B55%
Normal processes (brain stem, brain, motor systems,
autonomic nervous systems) 5%B10%
Psychopathologic disorders 30%B40%
Principles of therapy and pharmacodynamic
general principles 5%B10%
Gender, ethnic, and behavioral considerations affecting
disease treatment and prevention (including psychosocial,
cultural, occupational, and environmental) 5%B10%
1. A 50-year-old man develops difficulty walking while receiving 3. A 43-year-old woman is brought to the emergency
drug therapy for paranoid behavior. Physical examination department 1 hour after a stranger stole her purse. She is
shows masked facies and diffuse muscle rigidity. He is slow in agitated and extremely upset. She is 163 cm (5 ft 4 in) tall
initiating movement and walks with a shuffling narrow-based and weighs 91 kg (200 lb); BMI is 34 kg/m2. Physical
gait. Which of the following drugs is the most likely cause of examination shows no other abnormalities. Her blood glucose
these findings? concentration is increased. Which of the following is the most
likely explanation for this finding?
(A) Barbiturate
(B) Benzodiazepine (A) β-Cell hypersecretion
(C) Monoamine oxidase inhibitor (B) Cushing disease
(D) Phenothiazine (C) Glucagon-secreting adenoma
(E) Tricyclic compound (D) Pancreatitis
(E) Normal stress hormone response
2. A 24-year-old man is brought to the emergency department by
his mother after barricading himself in his apartment. For 8 4. A 4-year-old girl is brought to the physician by her mother
months, he has believed that aliens follow him and control his because of a fever for 1 day. The physician is more than 1
mind. He was fired from his part-time job 6 months ago hour behind schedule because of two patient emergencies
because of unusual behavior. There are no other apparent earlier that day. When he enters the room, the mother yells,
psychosocial stressors. His paternal grandmother has major "Do you know how long we've had to wait? This is totally
depressive disorder. He does not use drugs, but his mother unacceptable!" It is most appropriate for the physician to
states that he frequently drinks beer. There is no disturbance of initially state which of the following?
mood, sleep, or appetite. Examination shows an extremely
agitated and suspicious patient. There is a 1 x 1-cm abrasion in (A) "I am frustrated, too, with being so far behind
the right frontal area. His blood alcohol concentration is schedule."
0.5 mg/dL, and serum γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT) activity is (B) "I hope my staff explained about the difficult
40 U/L (N=5–50). Which of the following is the most likely patients who caused the delay."
diagnosis? (C) "It must have been very difficult to be here for
so long with a sick child."
(A) Alcohol-induced mood disorder (D) "My office staff scheduled too many patients for
(B) Bipolar disorder, manic today."
(C) Brief psychotic disorder (E) "Unfortunately, some patients demand more time
(D) Schizoaffective disorder than we scheduled for them."
(E) Schizophrenia, paranoid type
Copyright © 2003, 2008 by the National Board of Medical Examiners® (NBME®)
-1-
, 5. A 45-year-old man is admitted to the hospital because of chest 8. The children of a 67-year-old woman ask their family
pain for 1 hour. He has a sedentary lifestyle, and his diet is physician for advice about their mother's behavior 4 weeks
high in fat and sodium. The diagnosis of acute angina is made, after the death of her husband of 40 years. They are
and the appropriate treatment is administered. After the concerned because she weeps whenever she comes upon an
patient's condition is stabilized, the physician recommends an object in her home that she associates with him. Her appetite
exercise regimen and a low-fat, low-sodium diet. Two weeks has decreased, and she has had a 2-kg (4.4-lb) weight loss.
later, the patient returns for a follow-up examination. He She awakens 1 hour before the alarm goes off each morning.
indicates that he has not yet returned to work and spends most She is able to care for herself. Although she does not leave
of the day lying on the couch. He has not had any chest pain, her home for any social activities, she does enjoy visits from
shortness of breath, dyspnea with exertion, or peripheral her family. Which of the following is the most likely
edema. Which of the following initial statements by the explanation and appropriate management?
physician is most appropriate?
(A) Normal grief reaction, and she requires no
(A) "Are you afraid you might have a heart attack if medical attention
you exercise?" (B) Normal grief reaction, and she would benefit
(B) "Are you doing any types of exercise other than from diazepam therapy
channel surfing?" (C) Pathologic grief reaction, and she should be
(C) "Have you also not been following the diet I treated with an antidepressant
recommended?" (D) Pathologic grief reaction, and she should be
(D) "What do you think is interfering with your treated with psychotherapy
ability to resume activity?" (E) Pathologic grief reaction, and she should be
(E) "When would you like to start working on encouraged to move in with one of her
improving your health?" children
6. A firstborn 1-year-old girl is hospitalized for evaluation of 9. A 4-year-old girl is brought to the physician because she
arrested growth. Pregnancy and delivery were uncomplicated, consistently uses her left hand. Her mother, who is also left-
and development was normal initially. The infant is listless and handed, tells the physician that she wants her daughter to be
has a diaper rash. She is below the 5th percentile for length and right-handed because she resents all the obstacles she faced as
weight. No other abnormalities are noted. After 1 week of a left-handed child. She makes her daughter practice with a
routine hospital care, the infant has gained 1 kg (2.2 lb) and crayon held only in her right hand. Which of the following
has become more responsive. Which of the following is the responses by the physician is most appropriate?
most likely explanation for the arrested growth?
(A) "I know you want the best for your daughter,
(A) Hypothyroidism but pressing her to change is unlikely to
(B) Infantile psoriasis work and might cause its own problems."
(C) Milk allergy (B) "I understand your concerns, and since she is
(D) Parental neglect only 4, your efforts will likely result in her
(E) Pyloric stenosis being right-handed by age 7 years."
(C) "Times have changed. There is much less
discrimination against left-handed people
7. A 15-year-old boy with generalized tonic-clonic seizures is now."
brought to the physician by his mother for a follow-up (D) "You may be causing irreversible psychological
examination. She says he has not been taking his medication trauma to your child, which could be worse
regularly. In his presence, she explains to the physician that than being left-handed."
she is baffled by her son's behavior and Acan't get him to take (E) "You shouldn't interfere with nature."
his pills, let alone take out the trash.@ Even after his mother
leaves, the patient stares out the window and refuses to talk.
Which of the following behaviors during the interview is most
appropriate to assess the patient's compliance with this
regimen?
(A) Confront the patient about his poor behavior
(B) Explain the patient's resistance to him
(C) Laugh and joke with the patient
(D) Project a firm, businesslike manner
(E) Project a respectful, tolerant attitude and
encourage free discussion
Copyright © 2003, 2008 by the National Board of Medical Examiners® (NBME®)
-2-
Medical Examiners
Of the United States of America
___________________________________________________________________________________________
SUBJECT EXAMINATIONS
Content Outlines and Sample Items
Basic Sciences – Paper and Web Versions
Comprehensive Basic Science – Paper and Web Versions
Clinical Science – Paper Version only
Comprehensive Clinical Science – Paper Version only
Introduction to Clinical Diagnosis – Paper and Web Versions
___________________________________________________________________________________________
March 2010
, TABLE OF CONTENTS
Basic Science Subject Examinations*
Behavioral Sciences 1
Biochemistry 8
Gross Anatomy and Embryology 14
Histology and Cell Biology 20
Microbiology 26
Neuroscience 32
Pathology 38
Pharmacology 44
Physiology 50
Clinical Science Subject Examinations
Clinical Neurology 56
Family Medicine 63
Medicine 70
Obstetrics & Gynecology 77
Pediatrics 83
Psychiatry 90
Surgery 97
Introduction to Clinical Diagnosis Subject Examinations* 103
Comprehensive Subject Examinations
Comprehensive Basic Science Examination* 109
Comprehensive Clinical Science Examination 115
*Exams available in the web format
Copyright © 2003, 2008 by the National Board of Medical Examiners® (NBME®)
, BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
Progression through life cycle 1%B5%
Psychological and social factors influencing patient behavior 5%B10%
Patient interviewing, consultation, and interactions with the family 10%B15%
Medical ethics, jurisprudence, and professional behavior 5%B10%
Nutrition including vitamin deficiencies and eating disorders 1%B5%
Central & peripheral nervous systems 50%B55%
Normal processes (brain stem, brain, motor systems,
autonomic nervous systems) 5%B10%
Psychopathologic disorders 30%B40%
Principles of therapy and pharmacodynamic
general principles 5%B10%
Gender, ethnic, and behavioral considerations affecting
disease treatment and prevention (including psychosocial,
cultural, occupational, and environmental) 5%B10%
1. A 50-year-old man develops difficulty walking while receiving 3. A 43-year-old woman is brought to the emergency
drug therapy for paranoid behavior. Physical examination department 1 hour after a stranger stole her purse. She is
shows masked facies and diffuse muscle rigidity. He is slow in agitated and extremely upset. She is 163 cm (5 ft 4 in) tall
initiating movement and walks with a shuffling narrow-based and weighs 91 kg (200 lb); BMI is 34 kg/m2. Physical
gait. Which of the following drugs is the most likely cause of examination shows no other abnormalities. Her blood glucose
these findings? concentration is increased. Which of the following is the most
likely explanation for this finding?
(A) Barbiturate
(B) Benzodiazepine (A) β-Cell hypersecretion
(C) Monoamine oxidase inhibitor (B) Cushing disease
(D) Phenothiazine (C) Glucagon-secreting adenoma
(E) Tricyclic compound (D) Pancreatitis
(E) Normal stress hormone response
2. A 24-year-old man is brought to the emergency department by
his mother after barricading himself in his apartment. For 8 4. A 4-year-old girl is brought to the physician by her mother
months, he has believed that aliens follow him and control his because of a fever for 1 day. The physician is more than 1
mind. He was fired from his part-time job 6 months ago hour behind schedule because of two patient emergencies
because of unusual behavior. There are no other apparent earlier that day. When he enters the room, the mother yells,
psychosocial stressors. His paternal grandmother has major "Do you know how long we've had to wait? This is totally
depressive disorder. He does not use drugs, but his mother unacceptable!" It is most appropriate for the physician to
states that he frequently drinks beer. There is no disturbance of initially state which of the following?
mood, sleep, or appetite. Examination shows an extremely
agitated and suspicious patient. There is a 1 x 1-cm abrasion in (A) "I am frustrated, too, with being so far behind
the right frontal area. His blood alcohol concentration is schedule."
0.5 mg/dL, and serum γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT) activity is (B) "I hope my staff explained about the difficult
40 U/L (N=5–50). Which of the following is the most likely patients who caused the delay."
diagnosis? (C) "It must have been very difficult to be here for
so long with a sick child."
(A) Alcohol-induced mood disorder (D) "My office staff scheduled too many patients for
(B) Bipolar disorder, manic today."
(C) Brief psychotic disorder (E) "Unfortunately, some patients demand more time
(D) Schizoaffective disorder than we scheduled for them."
(E) Schizophrenia, paranoid type
Copyright © 2003, 2008 by the National Board of Medical Examiners® (NBME®)
-1-
, 5. A 45-year-old man is admitted to the hospital because of chest 8. The children of a 67-year-old woman ask their family
pain for 1 hour. He has a sedentary lifestyle, and his diet is physician for advice about their mother's behavior 4 weeks
high in fat and sodium. The diagnosis of acute angina is made, after the death of her husband of 40 years. They are
and the appropriate treatment is administered. After the concerned because she weeps whenever she comes upon an
patient's condition is stabilized, the physician recommends an object in her home that she associates with him. Her appetite
exercise regimen and a low-fat, low-sodium diet. Two weeks has decreased, and she has had a 2-kg (4.4-lb) weight loss.
later, the patient returns for a follow-up examination. He She awakens 1 hour before the alarm goes off each morning.
indicates that he has not yet returned to work and spends most She is able to care for herself. Although she does not leave
of the day lying on the couch. He has not had any chest pain, her home for any social activities, she does enjoy visits from
shortness of breath, dyspnea with exertion, or peripheral her family. Which of the following is the most likely
edema. Which of the following initial statements by the explanation and appropriate management?
physician is most appropriate?
(A) Normal grief reaction, and she requires no
(A) "Are you afraid you might have a heart attack if medical attention
you exercise?" (B) Normal grief reaction, and she would benefit
(B) "Are you doing any types of exercise other than from diazepam therapy
channel surfing?" (C) Pathologic grief reaction, and she should be
(C) "Have you also not been following the diet I treated with an antidepressant
recommended?" (D) Pathologic grief reaction, and she should be
(D) "What do you think is interfering with your treated with psychotherapy
ability to resume activity?" (E) Pathologic grief reaction, and she should be
(E) "When would you like to start working on encouraged to move in with one of her
improving your health?" children
6. A firstborn 1-year-old girl is hospitalized for evaluation of 9. A 4-year-old girl is brought to the physician because she
arrested growth. Pregnancy and delivery were uncomplicated, consistently uses her left hand. Her mother, who is also left-
and development was normal initially. The infant is listless and handed, tells the physician that she wants her daughter to be
has a diaper rash. She is below the 5th percentile for length and right-handed because she resents all the obstacles she faced as
weight. No other abnormalities are noted. After 1 week of a left-handed child. She makes her daughter practice with a
routine hospital care, the infant has gained 1 kg (2.2 lb) and crayon held only in her right hand. Which of the following
has become more responsive. Which of the following is the responses by the physician is most appropriate?
most likely explanation for the arrested growth?
(A) "I know you want the best for your daughter,
(A) Hypothyroidism but pressing her to change is unlikely to
(B) Infantile psoriasis work and might cause its own problems."
(C) Milk allergy (B) "I understand your concerns, and since she is
(D) Parental neglect only 4, your efforts will likely result in her
(E) Pyloric stenosis being right-handed by age 7 years."
(C) "Times have changed. There is much less
discrimination against left-handed people
7. A 15-year-old boy with generalized tonic-clonic seizures is now."
brought to the physician by his mother for a follow-up (D) "You may be causing irreversible psychological
examination. She says he has not been taking his medication trauma to your child, which could be worse
regularly. In his presence, she explains to the physician that than being left-handed."
she is baffled by her son's behavior and Acan't get him to take (E) "You shouldn't interfere with nature."
his pills, let alone take out the trash.@ Even after his mother
leaves, the patient stares out the window and refuses to talk.
Which of the following behaviors during the interview is most
appropriate to assess the patient's compliance with this
regimen?
(A) Confront the patient about his poor behavior
(B) Explain the patient's resistance to him
(C) Laugh and joke with the patient
(D) Project a firm, businesslike manner
(E) Project a respectful, tolerant attitude and
encourage free discussion
Copyright © 2003, 2008 by the National Board of Medical Examiners® (NBME®)
-2-
