Part 1 FRCA syllabus covering physics and clinical measurement

Basic physics site, Clinical application in the anaesthetic machine

SectionContentReferences
PC BK 01Mathematical concepts relationships and graphsPhysics
PC BK 02Exponential functions including wash-in, wash-out, tear-awayPhysics
PC BK 03LogarithmsPhysics
PC BK 04Area under the curve (integration) and rate of change (differentiation)
PC BK 05Basic measurement concepts relevant to understanding monitoring in anaesthesia: linearity, drift, hysteresis, signal to noise ratio, static and dynamic responseSection
PC BK 06Electrolyte solutions [also drug doses]: conversion between units e.g. molar, mg/ml, %
PC BK 07Sl Units fundamental units and derived units
PC BK 08Other non Sl units relevant to anaesthesia: including mmHg, bar, atmospheres, cm H20, psi
PC BK 09Simple mechanics mass, force, work, energy, powerPhysics
PC BK 10Heat: including temperature, absolute zeroPhysics
PC BK 11Heat transfer and loss conduction, convection, radiation, evaporationPhysics
PC BK 12Temperature measurement: including Hg, alcohol, infrared, thermistor, thermocouple, Bourdon gauge, liquid crystal. Anatomical sites used for measurementPhysics
PC BK 13Latent heats, triple point of water
PC BK 14Patient warming systems: principlesPhysics
PC BK 15Warming equipment for intravenous fluids: principles
PC BK 16Laws of thermodynamics; mechanical equivalent of heatPhysics, external
PC BK 17Humidity, absolute and relative, including measurement
PC BK 18Colligative properties: osmolarity, osmolality, osmometry, diffusion
PC BK 19Physics of gases. Gas Laws: kinetic theory of gases. Boyles, Henry's, Dalton, Charles, Gay-LussacPhysics
PC BK 20Critical temperature, critical pressure Physics
PC BK 21Physics of vapours
PC BK 22Pressure: absolute and relative pressure, gauge pressurePhysics
PC BK 23Manufacture and storage of gases and vapours, safety
PC BK 24Cylinders and pipelines, Bourdon gauge
PC BK 25Suction devices Section
PC BK 26Scavenging devices Section
PC BK 27Measurement of lung volumes and diffusion
PC BK 28Density and viscosity of gases
PC BK 29Laminar and turbulent flow: Hagen-Poiseuiae equation, Reynold's number, examples includmg helium
PC BK 30Measurement of volume and flow in gases and liquids, including pneumotachograph and other respirometers
PC BK 31Bernoulli principle
PC BK 32Venturi effect and entrainment devices
PC BK 33Vapour pressure: saturated vapour pressure
PC BK 34Vaporisation process of vaporisation
PC BK 35Vaponsers principles, including plenum and draw-over, temperature compensation, concentration Machine
PC BK 36Principles of surface tension
PC BK 37Basic concepts of electncity and magnetism Physics
PC BK 38Electrical voltage, AC and DC current, resistance, impedance Physics
PC BK 39Electrical circuits: series and parallel
PC BK 40Symbols of basic components of electncal circuitsPhysics
PC BK 41Capacitance, inductance Physics
PC BK 42Wheatstone bridge principles, usesPhysics
PC BK 43Electrical hazards: causes and prevention Physics
PC BK 44Electrocution: including micro-shock, earth faults, leakagePhysics
PC BK 43Electrical equipment safety: domestic and medical, classification/types of equipment, symbolsPhysics
PC BK 46Circuit breakers, fusesPhysics
PC BK 47Transformers, inductance Physics
PC BK 48Transistors, diodes Physics
PC BK 49Amplifiers: band width, low pass, high pass, band pass filtersPhysics
PC BK 50ECG principles including electrodes and electrode placement
PC BK 51Fourrer analysis External
PC BK 52Amplification of biological signals: including ECG, EM6, EEG, BIS, CFM, CFAMMachine
PC BK 53Piezo-electric devices
PC BK 54Electrical interference: sources, methods of reductionMachine
PC BK 55Processing, storage, display of physiological measurements
PC BK 56Transducers and strain gauges
PC BK 57Lasers: basic principles and safety
PC BK 58Ultrasound basic principles of ultrasound
PC BK 59Demonstrates knowledge of the physics relevant to optical fibres
PC BK 60Doppler effect, principles and clinical application
PC BK 61Cardiac pacemakers principles and classification
PC BK 62Defibrillators and defibrillation principles, including thoracic impedance, monophasic, multiphasic, implantable devices
PC BK 63Diathermy: monopolar, bipolar; safety and uses
PC BK 64Pressure transducers
PC BK 65Resonance, damping, frequency responsePhysics
PC BK 66Plenum systems: warming blankets, theatre and anaesthetic room ventilation
PC BK 67Breathing systems: Maplesons' classification, coaxial systems, circle systems, T-piece; resuscitation breathing devicesMachine
PC BK 68Ventilators: principles, including pressure and flow generators, cycling, minute volume dividers, jet and oscillator ventilators
PC BK 69Disconnection: monitoring of patient ventilatory disconnection
PC BK 70CO2 absorption: chemistry, complications
PC BK 71Capnography
PC BK 72Pulse oximetry
PC BK 73Fires and explosions: risks and prevention
PC BK 74Measurement of gas pressuresMachine
PC BK 75Blood pressure: direct and indirect measurement
PC BK 76Pulmonary artery pressure measurement
PC BK 77Cardiac output: principles of measurement
PC BK 78Measurement of gas and vapour concentrations e g. infrared, paramagnetic, fuel cell, oxygen electrode, mass spectrometryMachine
PC BK 79Measurement of pH, PCO2 PO2 electrolytes
PC BK 80Derived blood gas variables, e.g. HCO3, BE Siggaard-Andersen nomogram
PC BK 81Measurement of CO2, production, oxygen consumption, respiratory quotient
PC BK 82Simple tests of pulmonary function: peak flow rate, spirometry
PC BK 83Measurement of perfusion coronary, cerebral, splanchmc, renal
PC BK 84Assessment of neuromuscular blockade
PC BK BSInfusion pumps and syringe drivers, includmg PCA pumps and epidural infusion devices: principles, use, safety, and relevant drug infusion calculations
PC BK 86Environmental monitoring: contamination by anaesthetic gases and vapours
PC BK 87Minimum monitoring standardsAAGBI
PC BK 88Understanding the limits of monitoring equipment
PC BK 89Principles of calibration of monitoring equipmentPhysics
PC BK 90Principles of hygiene, including cleaning and sterilisation of equipment

Errors, omissions and comments to Michael Cunningham