Any Biology teachers around? I need advice on a revision guide / workbook please.

[BiologyHelpNeeded]

I've just started a degree which involves a module on biology and anatomy. The provided textbook is very heavy-going and so I thought if I listed the topics, there's a chance they might map onto a GCSE or A-Level syllabus. I could then go and buy the revision guide or workbook for that syllabus to help me understand the basic concepts!

The topics are:

• The cell, basic tissues and homeostasis
• Nervous system and muscles, muscle contraction
• Motor neurones, weakness and paralysis
• Respiration, ventilation
• Circulation and the circulatory system
• Vestibular function
• Introduction to embryology

These topics are also on the course but I doubt they will be on an A-Level or GCSE syllabus?!:

• The ear, anatomy of the ear, children and adult hearing
• Oral cavity, larynx, chewing and swallowing, anatomy of speech
• Anatomy of the face, craniofacial development, cranial nerves

I would be really grateful for any workbook or revision guide recommendations to help me get a grip of the basic understanding before I attempt to wrestle with the textbook!

Thank you

Who is your degree with? If its a brick uni pop down the library and have a look at the books they stock. This will give you an idea of the level of detail you will need. If its ou I think your tutor can give you a list of recommend books.

Try youtube for tutorials in the specific subjects. Also pop over to the student room (tsr) website, lots of people will have already posted this sort of question and they will also recommend websites.

You should be able to find the various exam board specs online somewhere so you can check if they cover these topics. If they do, CGP guides are good.

Taking your list to mean "are these covered at all in A level biology", see below. However it's hard to know in how much detail.

• The cell, basic tissues and homeostasis - yes
• Nervous system and muscles, muscle contraction - yes
• Motor neurones - briefly, weakness and paralysis - no
• Respiration, ventilation - yes
• Circulation and the circulatory system - yes
• Vestibular function - no
• Introduction to embryology - no

I quite like the "Biozone" workbooks.

As a very basic starting point you could use the BBC bitesize website