Curriculum

17 Sections
1548 Lessons
100 Days

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U01.01 Biochemistry
This biochemistry review for USMLE Step 1 covers essential topics including metabolism, enzymology, and molecular biology.
126
U01.02 Immunology
Prepare for USMLE Step 1 Immunology with a comprehensive review covering foundational concepts, immune system mechanisms, and key disorders to solidify your understanding and boost exam readiness.
42
U01.03 Microbiology
Review essential microbiology topics for the USMLE Step 1, covering key pathogens, mechanisms of disease, and antimicrobial principles critical for mastering infectious disease concepts.
172
U01.04 General Pathology
Explore key concepts in general pathology essential for the USMLE Step 1. This review covers fundamental principles, disease mechanisms, and clinical correlations to help you excel in your medical exam.
35
U01.05 Pharmacology
Master key pharmacology concepts for the USMLE Step 1 with a focus on drug mechanisms, therapeutic uses, adverse effects, and interactions essential for high-yield exam performance.
43
U01.06 Public Health Sciences
Review essential Public Health Sciences topics for the USMLE Step 1, covering epidemiology, biostatistics, health policy, and ethics to strengthen your understanding of foundational public health principles.
53
U01.07 Cardiovascular system
Comprehensive review of essential cardiovascular system topics to help you excel in the USMLE Step 1 exam, covering key concepts from anatomy to pathology.
73
U01.08 Endocrine system
Master essential concepts of the endocrine system for USMLE Step 1, covering hormone regulation, feedback mechanisms, and key disorders to boost your exam readiness.
51
U01.09 Gastrointestinal system
Review key topics in the gastrointestinal system for the USMLE Step 1, covering essential concepts in anatomy, physiology, pathology, and pharmacology to reinforce your understanding and test readiness.
131
U01.10 Hematology and Oncology
This review covers essential Hematology and Oncology topics for the USMLE Step 1, including hematopoiesis, coagulation, anemias, leukemias, lymphomas, and neoplastic syndromes.
148
U01.11 Musculoskeletal, Skin, and Connective Tissue
Review essential topics for the USMLE Step 1 Musculoskeletal, Skin, and Connective Tissue systems, covering anatomy, physiology, pathology, and pharmacology fundamentals critical for exam success.
178
U01.12 Neurology and Special Senses
Master the foundational concepts of Neurology and Special Senses with our USMLE Step 1 review, covering essential topics like neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, and sensory pathways.
143
U01.13 Psychiatry
Psychiatry for the USMLE Step 1 focuses on understanding the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of psychiatric disorders, with an emphasis on key concepts like neurotransmitter imbalances, mental health disorders, and pharmacology.
83
U01.14 Renal System
The Renal System review for USMLE Step 1 covers key concepts including renal physiology, nephron function, acid-base balance, electrolyte regulation, and renal pathology, crucial for understanding both normal and abnormal kidney functions.
81
U01.15 Reproductive System
The USMLE Step 1 Reproductive System review covers key concepts in human reproduction, including anatomy, physiology, endocrinology, and common pathologies affecting both male and female reproductive health.
124
U01.16 Respiratory System
The Respiratory System review for the USMLE Step 1 covers key concepts in anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, and pharmacology essential for understanding respiratory diseases and treatments.
61
U01.17 Rapid Review
he USMLE Step 1 Rapid Review covers essential topics across multiple disciplines, providing a concise, high-yield overview to reinforce key concepts and optimize your exam preparation.
5

Movement disorders

Movement disorders are neurological conditions that lead to involuntary or abnormal movements. These disorders can result from various causes, such as medication side effects, genetic diseases, or metabolic abnormalities. Below is a detailed description of common movement disorders, their presentations, characteristic lesions, and notable clinical associations.

Common Movement Disorders

Disorder	Presentation	Characteristic Lesion	Notes
Akathisia	Restlessness with intense urge to move	–	Often a side effect of neuroleptics or Parkinson’s treatment
Asterixis	“Flapping” motion with wrist extension	–	Seen in hepatic encephalopathy, Wilson disease, and other metabolic derangements
Athetosis	Slow, writhing, snake-like movements, especially in fingers	Basal ganglia	Common in Huntington disease
Chorea	Sudden, jerky, purposeless movements	Basal ganglia	Seen in Huntington disease and acute rheumatic fever (Sydenham chorea)
Dystonia	Sustained, involuntary muscle contractions	–	Includes writer’s cramp, blepharospasm, torticollis; treated with botulinum toxin injection
Essential Tremor	High-frequency tremor with sustained posture, worsened by anxiety	–	Often familial; alcohol can decrease amplitude; treatment includes propranolol, primidone
Intention Tremor	Slow, zigzag motion when pointing/targeting	Cerebellar dysfunction	–
Resting Tremor	Uncontrolled hand tremor at rest, alleviated by movement	Substantia nigra (Parkinson’s disease)	Known as “pill-rolling” tremor; common in Parkinson’s
Hemiballismus	Sudden, wild flailing of one side of the body	The Contralateral subthalamic nucleus (e.g., stroke)	Pronounced “half-of-body ballistic”
Myoclonus	Sudden, brief, uncontrolled muscle contraction	–	Seen in metabolic issues like renal and liver failure; including jerks and hiccups
Restless Legs Syndrome	Symptoms worsen at rest/night; relieved by movement	–	Linked with iron deficiency, chronic kidney disease (CKD); treated with dopamine agonists

Common Movement Disorders

Detailed Description of Disorders

Akathisia

Presentation: Intense urge to move, often causing restlessness.
Causes: Common side effects of neuroleptic medications or Parkinson’s treatment.

Asterixis

Presentation: “Flapping” motion triggered by wrist extension.
Associations: Linked with hepatic encephalopathy, Wilson disease, and various metabolic conditions.

Athetosis

Presentation: Snake-like, slow, writhing movements, usually in fingers.
Cause: Damage in the basal ganglia, often associated with Huntington’s disease.

Chorea

Presentation: Quick, jerky, purposeless movements; appears like dancing.
Cause: Basal ganglia involvement, seen in Huntington’s disease and Sydenham chorea in rheumatic fever.

Dystonia

Presentation: Sustained involuntary contractions; e.g., writer’s cramp, blepharospasm.
Treatment: Botulinum toxin injections are commonly used.

Essential Tremor

Presentation: High-frequency tremor that worsens with movement or anxiety.
Cause: Often familial; patients may self-medicate with alcohol to reduce tremors.
Treatment: Nonselective β-blockers (e.g., propranolol) and primidone.

Intention Tremor

Presentation: Slow, zigzag motion when attempting to reach a target.
Cause: Associated with cerebellar dysfunction.

Resting Tremor

Presentation: Involuntary hand tremor at rest, improves with movement.
Cause: Substantia nigra involvement, common in Parkinson’s disease.
Mnemonic: “Pill-rolling” tremor; recall “parking” for rest.

Hemiballismus

Presentation: Sudden, violent movement on one side of the body.
Cause: Damage to the contralateral subthalamic nucleus, often post-stroke.

Myoclonus

Presentation: Brief, sudden muscle contractions, like jerks or hiccups.
Associations: Often found in metabolic disorders (renal/liver failure).

Restless Legs Syndrome

Presentation: Restlessness at night, relieved by movement.
Associations: Linked with iron deficiency and CKD.
Treatment: Dopamine agonists such as pramipexole or ropinirole.

Points to Remember

Movement disorders arise from various neurological and metabolic disturbances.
Treatment options vary, often involving medications targeting underlying mechanisms.
Associated lesions help guide diagnosis based on symptom presentation.

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USMLE Step 1 Review Series

Curriculum

Movement disorders

Common Movement Disorders

Detailed Description of Disorders

Akathisia

Asterixis

Athetosis

Chorea

Dystonia

Essential Tremor

Intention Tremor

Resting Tremor

Hemiballismus

Myoclonus

Restless Legs Syndrome

Points to Remember

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