Board Question Breakdown
(Anatomic Sciences section)
The Anatomic Sciences portion of part I of the Dental Board exams consists of 100 test items.
They are broken up into the following distribution:
Gross Anatomy
(50 questions):
Head
- 28 questions broken down in this fashion:
-
Oral cavity
- 6 questions
-
Extraoral structures
- 12 questions
-
Osteology
- 6 questions
-
TMJ and muscles of mastication
- 4 questions
Neck
- 5 questions
Upper Limb
- 3 questions
Thoracic cavity
- 5 questions
Abdominopelvic cavity
- 2 questions
Neuroanatomy
(CNS, ANS +) - 7 questions
Basic Histology
(23 questions):
Ultrastructure
(cell organelles) - 4 questions
Basic tissues
- 4 questions
Bone, cartilage & joints
- 3 questions
Lymphatic & circulatory systems
- 3 questions
Endocrine system
- 2 questions
Respiratory system
- 1 question
Gastrointestinal system
- 3 questions
Genitouirinary systems
- (reproductive & urinary) 2 questions
Integument
- 1 question
Oral Histology
(16 questions):
Tooth & supporting structures
- 9 questions
Soft oral tissues
(including dentin) - 5 questions
Temporomandibular joint
- 2 questions
Developmental Biology
(11 questions):
Osteogenesis
(bone formation) - 2 questions
Tooth development
, eruption & movement - 4 questions
General embryology
- 2 questions
