Basic Science for the MRCS is aimed at candidates preparing for the intercollegiate MRCS examination and is a concise revision guide focusing on the core basic sciences of anatomy, physiology and pathology. Its content has been distilled from the best-selling parent volume, Applied Basic Science for Basic Surgical Training, also written by the senior author. Although it focuses on the basic sciences, it does emphasise their clinical relevance where necessary.
This conveniently sized and reasonably priced book is divided into three sections covering each of the three core basic sciences. It presents the fundamental knowledge of the basic sciences for the written and viva voce sections of the MRCS examination in a thorough and succinct manner in bullet-point format. It is well illustrated with the accompanying figures clearly drawn in black-and-white halftones. These features allow rapid revision of the essential knowledge prior to the examination. This book is a respectable improvement on Raftery's Applied Basic Science for Basic Surgical Training.
Overall, it succeeds in fulfilling its objective as a rapid revision of the basic sciences for the intercollegiate MRCS and is highly recommended to candidates for this diploma. It also provides an excellent review of the basic sciences for those in higher surgical training.