The bony pelvis and pelvic types
Learn the four pelvic types by inlet shape and by which is favourable or unfavourable for vaginal birth, and the diameters of the inlet, cavity and outlet in the order the fetal head meets them.
Our blueprint estimate puts 15–20 of the 200 questions in anatomy, about 8.8% of the paper, spread across both papers. It is our estimate, not a figure published by the RCOG. One of the heaviest-weighted areas on the paper.
15–20
of 200
9
in our syllabus map
human_structure
3 other areas
Anatomy rewards structure over detail. The pelvis, pelvic floor, blood supply and nerve supply recur in different guises, and a clean mental map answers most of the questions, including those framed around a clinical event.
The 9 syllabus topics we map to Anatomy for Part 1.
Learn the four pelvic types by inlet shape and by which is favourable or unfavourable for vaginal birth, and the diameters of the inlet, cavity and outlet in the order the fetal head meets them.
The levator ani group is the main support. It receives its own sacral nerve branches, and is not supplied by the pudendal nerve, a fact that questions return to repeatedly. The pudendal nerve passes the ischial spine, which makes that spine the landmark for a pudendal block.
The cardinal ligaments are the main uterine support. Be able to trace the uterine and ovarian arteries and veins, and say which side of the body drains to which vessel.
The ovary drains along its own vessels to the para-aortic nodes, which matters for how ovarian cancer is staged and why the drainage differs from that of the cervix and vulva.
Draw, do not just read. Sketch the pelvis from above and from the side, then label the floor muscles, ligaments and the vessels crossing them. For every nerve write the roots, the muscles it supplies and the clinical manoeuvre where it matters, such as a block. Finish with the lymphatic drainage of each organ, which is easy to leave until last and easy to forget.
Part 1 is 200 single best answer questions across two papers with no negative marking, so an informed guess always beats a blank. Anatomy and surgical anatomy together make up a large share of the Human Structure domain. The questions are usually visual, so draw each region rather than only reading it.
Every question is original and written from published RCOG and NICE guidance, and every explanation cites the guideline it came from. Free: 5 days full access, then 50 questions. No card.
Published RCOG and NICE guidance summarised for revision, with the source cited on every page.
MRCOG AI is an independent educational tool. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG).