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FCPS Part 1 Endocrine MCQs
Endocrine questions test hypothalamic and pituitary control, thyroid, adrenal and pancreatic hormones, calcium regulation, reproductive hormones and the classic endocrine disorders.
Below are 5 free single-best-answer questions drawn from the most frequently examined endocrine concepts, each with the answer and a rationale for every option. The full bank has 80 endocrine concepts, each asked several different ways.
Free endocrine questions
Question 1
Serum marker followed after surgery for thyroid C-cell cancer:
- A. Vitamin D
- B. Calcitonin
- C. CA-125
- D. Thyroglobulin
- E. Parathyroid hormone
Show answer
Answer: B. Calcitonin
Calcitonin from parafollicular C cells inhibits osteoclast resorption and lowers serum calcium. Medullary carcinoma arises from these cells, so serum calcitonin tracks the tumour.
Why not the others: Parathyroid hormone: raises calcium. Vitamin D: increases calcium absorption. Thyroglobulin: follicular cell product, differentiated cancer marker. CA-125: ovarian marker.
High-yield: C-cell tumour = medullary carcinoma = calcitonin.
Question 2
Diffuse goitre, exophthalmos and stimulating antibodies against the TSH receptor define:
- A. Toxic adenoma
- B. Hashimoto thyroiditis
- C. Graves disease
- D. Toxic multinodular goitre
- E. De Quervain thyroiditis
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Answer: C. Graves disease
In Graves disease IgG thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin binds the TSH receptor (type II hypersensitivity), driving autonomous T3/T4 output with suppressed TSH. It also stimulates orbital and dermal fibroblasts, giving orbitopathy and pretibial myxoedema.
Why not the others: Hashimoto: hypothyroid with anti-TPO antibodies. De Quervain: painful goitre after a viral illness. Toxic multinodular goitre: nodular gland with no eye signs. Riedel: hard fibrotic gland, euthyroid or hypothyroid.
High-yield: Eye signs and pretibial myxoedema occur only in Graves disease.
Question 3
Anabolic hormone lowering blood glucose while storing all three macronutrients:
- A. Growth hormone
- B. Glucagon
- C. Cortisol
- D. Adrenaline
- E. Insulin
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Answer: E. Insulin
Insulin is the anabolic hormone of the fed state. It promotes glycogen, triglyceride and protein synthesis and suppresses lipolysis, so it is the only hormone that lowers blood glucose.
Why not the others: Glucagon: activates lipolysis and gluconeogenesis. Cortisol: promotes lipolysis and gluconeogenesis. Adrenaline: activates hormone-sensitive lipase. Growth hormone: raises glucose and lipolysis.
High-yield: Insulin stores all three fuels and switches hormone-sensitive lipase off.
Question 4
Skin hyperpigmentation with hypotension, low sodium and high potassium suggests:
- A. Secondary adrenal insufficiency
- B. Conn syndrome
- C. SIADH
- D. Addison disease
- E. Cushing syndrome
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Answer: D. Addison disease
Destruction of both adrenal cortices removes cortisol and aldosterone, giving hyponatraemia, hyperkalaemia, acidosis and hypotension. Loss of cortisol feedback raises ACTH and MSH, which darkens the skin.
Why not the others: Conn syndrome: hypokalaemia with hypertension. SIADH: low sodium but normal potassium and no pigment. Cushing syndrome: hypertension and hyperglycaemia. Secondary adrenal insufficiency: no pigmentation and potassium stays normal.
High-yield: Low Na plus high K plus pigmentation = Addison; renin high, aldosterone low.
Question 5
Which naturally occurring androgen binds the androgen receptor most avidly?
- A. Testosterone
- B. Oestradiol
- C. Dihydrotestosterone
- D. Androstenedione
- E. DHEA
Show answer
Answer: C. Dihydrotestosterone
5α-reductase converts testosterone to DHT in target tissue. DHT binds the androgen receptor far more avidly, so it is the most potent natural androgen.
Why not the others: Testosterone: most abundant but less potent; acts on internal Wolffian structures. Androstenedione: weak adrenal precursor. DHEA: weak adrenal precursor. Oestradiol: oestrogen, not an androgen.
High-yield: Most potent androgen or male external genitalia = DHT; testosterone = internal Wolffian tract.
Keep going with endocrine
Anaesgen brings every concept back on a spaced-repetition schedule timed to your exam date, as a different question each time, with full mock papers for Paper 1 and 2.
Get full access Try the 5 sample questionsHigh-yield endocrine one-liners
The most-tested endocrine concepts, as a clue and the answer it points to:
- C cells, osteoclast inhibition, medullary carcinoma marker → calcitonin.
- Thyrotoxicosis, proptosis, pretibial myxoedema, TSH-receptor Ab → Graves disease.
- Storage of all fuels, inhibits lipase, lipogenesis and glycolysis → insulin.
- Pigmentation, hypotension, low Na, high K, high ACTH → Addison disease.
- Most potent androgen, external genitalia, 5α-reductase product → dihydrotestosterone.
- Day-21 level, corpus luteum, secretory endometrium, temperature rise → progesterone.
- Dilute polyuria, hypernatraemia, desmopressin response, head injury → central DI.
- Prolactin inhibition, galactorrhoea, noradrenaline precursor → dopamine.
- Spider naevi, proliferative endometrium, menopausal hot flushes → oestrogen.
- Fasting hypoglycaemia, high insulin and C-peptide, Whipple triad → insulinoma.
- CAH, salt-wasting, virilised 46,XX, high 17-OHP → 21-hydroxylase.
- SR store, terminal cisternae, high capacity → calsequestrin.
- High T3/T4, low TSH, weight loss → primary hyperthyroidism.
- ↑Ca, ↓phosphate, bone resorption, renal failure bone disease → PTH.
- Bone lengthening, IGF-1, gigantism, anti-insulin, lipolysis → growth hormone.
- Ovulation kit, fertile window, follicle rupture → LH surge.
- Stones, bones, high Ca, low phosphate, high PTH → primary hyperparathyroidism.
- Late dumping, postprandial sweating, insulin tolerance test → hypoglycaemia.
- Pineal, dark-phase peak, from serotonin, anti-gonadotrophic → melatonin.
- Gq → phospholipase C → IP3 → calcium release.
Other FCPS Part 1 subjects
AnatomyPharmacologyPathologyBiochemistry & GeneticsCardiovascularNeurophysiologyMicrobiologyHaematologyGeneral PhysiologyImmunologyRespiratoryEmbryologyObstetrics & GynaeRenal & Acid-BaseHistologyGI & LiverPhysicsBiostatistics
New to the exam? Read the FCPS Part 1 exam guide: dates, format and a 12-week study plan.