MCAT Basics

This MCAT podcast covers social stratification. It begins with a definition and examples of many terms related to social stratification and inequality, including prejudice, discrimination, stereotype, stereotype threat, status (ascribed vs achieved), power (six different types to know), social capital (and other forms of capital), gentrification, and poverty. The discussion then moves on to social class and the social gradient in healthcare.

Visit www.HealthAdmissionsIQ.com for more help with the MCAT.

[00:00] Introduction

[02:24] Terms related to social stratification

[03:03] Defining social stratification

[03:53] What is prejudice

[04:57] Defining stereotype and discrimination

[09:29] What is stereotype threat

[13:04] Status and the six different types of power

[21:50] Social Capital

[23:38] Defining gentrification

[25:07] Absolute poverty vs. relative poverty

[27:59] Social Class

[33:53] Social Stratification in Healthcare

This podcast explores cell organelles, organized into five categories: organelles found in all cells, eukaryotic cells, plant and bacterial cells, human and bacterial cells, human cells only, and plant cells only. The organelles discussed include ribosomes, vacuoles, cytoskeleton, plasma membrane, peroxisome, proteasome, nucleus, nucleolus, smooth and rough endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, lysosome, cell wall, flagella, mitochondria, melanosome, and chloroplasts.

Visit www.HealthAdmissionsIQ.com for more help with the MCAT.

Jump into the conversation:

[00:00] MCAT Tutoring from MedSchoolCoach

[00:34] Welcome to MCAT Basics

[01:06] Topics covered in this episode

[01:59] Definition of “Cell Organelles”

[03:59] Organelles found in all cells - ribosomes, vacuoles, cytoskeleton, plasma membrane, peroxisome, proteasome

[22:42] Organelles that show up in eukaryotes only - nucleus,  nucleolus, smooth and rough endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, lysosome

[40:03] Orgnalles shared by plants and bacteria - cell wall and flagella

[46:40] Organelles found in human cells only -  mitochondria, melanosome, and chloroplasts

This podcast addresses translational motion. First, vectors are covered. Then, the variables of acceleration, velocity, and position are discussed. Next, the host discusses the relationship between those three variables. Finally, it covers free fall, projectile motion, air resistance, and friction.

The example link for this segment is provided here:  Geogebra Example

Visit www.HealthAdmissionsIQ.com for more help with the MCAT.

Jump into the conversation:

[00:00] MCAT Tutoring from MedSchoolCoach

[00:34] Welcome to MCAT Basics

[01:06] Topics covered in this episode

[01:57] What is translational motion

[04:08] Vectors

[14:21] Velocity, acceleration, and position/displacement

[20:08] The relationship between acceleration, velocity, and position 

[34:53] Free fall and projectile motion

[44:40] The four equations to know for projectile motion

[47:20] Air resistance and friction

In this episode, we focus on the cardiovascular system and its connection to fluid mechanics. Beginning with an exploration of cardiovascular anatomy, the discussion covers various aspects of the heart: its function, contraction mechanism, the diverse cell types found within it, and its essential role in regulating blood pressure. 

Finally, in the latter part of the episode, several fluid mechanics topics pertinent to the MCAT and their application to the cardiovascular system are addressed. These include total peripheral resistance, viscosity, the continuity equation, and the Bernoulli equation, offering insights into their relevance in understanding cardiovascular dynamics.

Visit www.HealthAdmissionsIQ.com for more help with the MCAT.

[00:00] Intro

[02:32] Circulatory system overview

[08:48] Blood's journey from the heart through systematic circulation

[11:49] The reason the heart needs one-way valves

[15:14] The path of blood flow through the body

[16:52] Function of the heart

[22:21] QRS complex

[24:24] Cells that make up the heart

[28:33] Hormonal control of blood pressure and its relationship to the heart

[40:39] Application of physics fluids to cardiovascular system

[43:31] Peripheral resistance

[48:38] Viscosity 

[51:54] Continuity equation

[55:02] Bernoulli equation

In this episode, we cover motivation and emotion–key concepts that will show up in the Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior section of the MCAT.

We start with the difference between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. We then go into various theories including evolutionary, arousal, drive-reduction, incentive, three needs theory, Maslow’s hierarchy, and the correlation between harmful behaviors like addiction and motivation. 

Lastly we get into emotion, covering its three components, the relationship between emotion and the brain, and an array of theories including evolutionary, James-Lange, Cannon-Bard, Schachter-Singer, Lazarus, and facial feedback theories. Additionally, we discuss the influence of culture on emotion and delves into emotional disorders.

Visit www.HealthAdmissionsIQ.com for more help with the MCAT.

Jump Into the Conversation:

[00:00] Introducing MCAT Basics

[02:09] Defining Motivation

[03:00] The difference between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation

[04:30] Theories of Motivation - Evolutionary, Arousal, Drive-reduction, Incentive, Three Needs and Maslow’s Hierarchy, 

[19:30] The correlation between harmful behaviors like addiction and motivation. 

[26:07] Defining emotion

[27:50] The psychological, cognitive, and behavioral components of emotion

[31:11] The theories of emotion -  evolutionary perspective of emotion,  James Lang theory, the Cannon Barr theory, and the Schachter Singer theory.

[41:09] The facial feedback theory

[46:28] Emotional disorders that you're most likely to see on the MCAT- depressive disorders anxiety based disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder, and bipolar disorders.

This MCAT podcast covers the respiratory system. First, I cover the anatomy of the respiratory system. Then, I dive into its main functions:

1. Gas exchange (breathing mechanisms here too)
2. Thermoregulation
3. Particle filtration
4. pH control

Lastly I talk about how the respiratory system is controlled.

Thanks for listening!

This podcast is the first in a series of lectures covering genetics. I cover the following topics: brief history of basic genetic principals, evolution, chromosomal theory (including mutations), mitosis and meiosis, and inheritance patterns.

Thanks for listening!

This lecture covers basic quantum theory, quantum numbers, hybridization, types of bonds, and nuclear decay. 

Thanks for listening!!

This podcast discusses chemical kinetics and solubility. It begins with an exploration of kinetics, including the general concept, collision theory, rate laws, and the Arrhenius equation. Next, it delves into solubility, covering the general concept, solubility product (Ksp), the common ion effect, selective precipitation, and Henry’s law.

Visit www.HealthAdmissionsIQ.com for more help with the MCAT.

Jump into the conversation:

[00:00] MCAT Tutoring from MedSchoolCoach

[00:34] Welcome to MCAT Basics

[01:06] Topics covered in this episode

[02:37] What is general kinetics

[08:53] Collision Theory

[11:08] Rate Laws

[21:15] Arrhenius Equation

[28:00] What is Solubility

[32:08] Solubility Product (Ksp)

[43:49] The Common Ion Effect

[45:22] Selective precipitation

[48:35] Henry’s Law

In this episode, we focus on biosignaling and cover how cells communicate through systems like voltage-gated and ligand-gated ion channels, using real-world examples such as neuronal signaling and muscle contraction.

We also break down the role of enzyme-linked receptors, specifically receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs), and explore how these pathways are involved in cell growth and cancer. Additionally, we take a detailed look at G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) and their role in activating secondary messenger systems like cyclic AMP (cAMP).

Visit www.HealthAdmissionsIQ.com for more help with the MCAT.

Jump into the conversation:

(00:00) Intro

(00:32) Overview of Biosignaling

(01:05) Introduction to Biosignaling and its Importance

(01:49) Stimulus-Response Concept: Fight or flight, glucose homeostasis, transcription regulation

(02:34) Voltage-Gated Ion Channels: Activated by changes in membrane potential

(03:29) Action Potential: Sodium channels and signal propagation

(05:01) Ligand-Gated Ion Channels: Role in neuron-to-neuron signaling

(06:01) Muscle Contraction: Acetylcholine's role in skeletal muscle contraction

(07:29) Misconception on Calcium: Sodium initiates muscle cell depolarization, not calcium

(08:33) Enzyme-Linked Receptors: Focus on receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs)

(09:39) RTKs and Cancer: How RTK signaling pathways are linked to cancer

(12:00) G-Protein Coupled Receptors (GPCR): Structure and function of GPCRs

(14:43) Adenylate Cyclase and cAMP: Role of GTP in activating adenylate cyclase and producing cAMP

(18:10) Quiz Question 1: Ion specificity in potassium channels

(22:54) Quiz Question 2: Hypertension treatment and G-protein pathways

(25:00) Biosignaling as the foundation for cellular responses