New 2nd edition · instant access
Every Step 1 list, back when you need it.
StepLobe Mnemonics for USMLE® Step 1. 717 mnemonics with what every letter means, why it's true and the exact way the exam will describe the patient.
- Every letter explained, plus the mechanism, so you can rebuild a list you half-forget
- An exam hook on every card: what the stem shows, and what to think
- 161 real clinical photos and 169 original diagrams, not cartoons
- 136 exam-style questions and a rapid-recall sheet in every section
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From the team behind the StepLobe Main Book, reviewed by 28 physicians led by Prof. Malihe Amirian, MD.
- 717
- mnemonics
- 161
- real clinical photos
- 169
- original diagrams
- 136
- exam-style questions
- 582
- full-color pages
- 17
- subjects, Step 1 order
How every card works
Not just a list of letters. A card that teaches.
A mnemonic only helps if you know what each letter means and why it's true. That's why all 717 cards follow the same five-part pattern.
- 1
The mnemonic
Short and vivid: a classic you may know, or a new StepLobe one built to stick.
- 2
Every letter, decoded
What each letter stands for, with the one detail the exam wants beside it.
- 3
Why it works
The mechanism in two lines, so a forgotten letter can be rebuilt instead of guessed.
- 4
The real picture
A licensed clinical photo or an original diagram whenever seeing it is what makes it stick.
- 5
The exam hook
How an NBME-style stem describes the patient, and what you should think.
Look inside
Flip through real pages.
Twelve pages from across the book, exactly as they print. Want more? The free sample has 26 pages, including the whole first Cardiovascular chapter and its questions.
Page 9 · 1 of 12
Cardiovascular · Murmurs, with a one-cycle diagram and a 'tell them apart' table
Read all 26 free pages (PDF)No sign-up. The sample opens in a new tab.
New in the 2nd edition
Rebuilt from the first page to the last.
Same promise, much better book: clearer cards, real images and questions to prove you know it.
Rewritten card by card
Each of the 717 cards was checked against current guidelines and nomenclature, and rewritten to teach the mechanism, not just the list.
Real photos replace drawings
161 licensed clinical photographs (rashes, smears, X-rays, CT, histology) and 169 new diagrams drawn for this edition.
Original mnemonics
113 mnemonics borrowed from commercial review books were replaced with new StepLobe ones, and weak ones were made shorter and catchier.
Test yourself
136 exam-style questions with full explanations, plus a rapid-recall sheet at the end of every section.
What's inside
All 17 subjects, in Step 1 order.
Each section opens with a roadmap and closes with 8 exam-style questions and a rapid-recall sheet. Classics like PROVe and FROM JANE sit beside new StepLobe mnemonics.
Cardiovascular
46 cardsMurmurs, congenital heart disease, endocarditis, pericardium, arrhythmias, heart failure, vasculitis and cardiac drugs
PROVeFROM JANEHACEKRenal & Acid–Base
32 cardsAcid–base, glomerular disease, diuretics, electrolytes and stones
GOLDMARKCLEVER PDPulmonary
32 cardsLung anatomy, obstructive and restrictive disease, pneumonia, embolism and lung cancer
RALSCLUBBINGSPHERENeurology & Cranial Nerves
85 cardsCranial nerves, brainstem and stroke syndromes, spinal cord, seizures, dementia and neuro drugs
LR6 SO4 R3O TOM CATPICAGastrointestinal
56 cardsEmbryology, GI bleeding, liver and biliary disease, pancreas, bowel disease and GI drugs
SAD PUCKERNAVELRIPHematology & Oncology
47 cardsAnemias, coagulation, leukemias and lymphomas, tumor markers and chemotherapy
TAILSLEADPCTEndocrine
40 cardsPituitary, thyroid, adrenal, calcium, diabetes and MEN syndromes
FLAT PiGLMNOPBIG HANDSReproductive
26 cardsEmbryology, pregnancy, ovarian and testicular disease, sex chromosome disorders and breast
VEAL CHOPAPGARHELLPMusculoskeletal & Anatomy
48 cardsBrachial plexus, nerves and muscles, joints, bone disease and rheumatology
SITSERBSSALTDermatology
21 cardsSkin layers, blistering disease, skin cancer and the classic rashes
PSORIASISNASANODOSUMPsychiatry
38 cardsMood, psychosis, anxiety, personality, substance use and psychiatric drugs
SIG E CAPSDABDASASHMicrobiology
60 cardsBacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites and antimicrobials
SHaKE the SPoNGePHAGEFRIDGEImmunology
25 cardsCells and cytokines, hypersensitivity, immunodeficiency and transplant
GAMEDACIDBIG HARMPharmacology
50 cardsPharmacokinetics, autonomic drugs, toxicology, antidotes and drug side effects
DUMBBELSSRACE By GPSPEABiochemistry & Nutrition
56 cardsMetabolism, enzymes, storage diseases, vitamins and minerals
GARLICMILDABCDGenetics
29 cardsInheritance patterns, trisomies, trinucleotide repeats and genetic syndromes
CLAMPSDown’s ABCDEFRIEDreichBiostatistics & Ethics
26 cardsStudy design, test statistics, bias, ethics and patient safety
PARQWIPECURVES
Why it sticks
A mnemonic you understand is one you keep.
| Feature | StepLobe Mnemonics | Typical mnemonic lists |
|---|---|---|
| What every letter means | sometimes | |
| Why it's true (the mechanism) | rarely | |
| How the exam describes it | ||
| Real photos and diagrams | ||
| Exam-style questions to test yourself | ||
| Checked against current guidelines | often outdated | |
| Organized by subject, with A–Z indexes | scattered |
“Struggling doesn't mean you're failing. It means you're learning something hard.”
I built StepLobe to be the study partner I wished I'd had. Every mnemonic in this book comes with the reason it is true, so you can walk into the exam room calm, ready and proud of what you've built.
Dr. Aryan · Founder of StepLobe
Start remembering today.
- 717 mnemonics, every letter explained
- 161 real photos · 169 diagrams
- 136 exam-style questions
- Rapid-recall sheets and A–Z indexes
$49 · launch price until 30 Nov 2026
Want everything? The Complete Step 1 Vault includes this book, both Main Book volumes, all 17 Systems books and 12 months of Pro for $249.
Questions about the book
How do I get the book after I pay?+
Right away. Your personal copy is ready on the thank-you page, in My books in your StepLobe account, and in an email. Sign in with the email you used at checkout.
Can I read it on my phone or iPad?+
Yes. It's a full-color 8.5 × 11 book that reads best on a tablet or computer and works on a phone too.
What's new in the 2nd edition?+
Everything was rebuilt: 717 rewritten cards, 161 real photos, 169 new diagrams, 136 exam-style questions, and 113 borrowed mnemonics replaced with original ones.
Who made it?+
Dr. Aryan and the StepLobe team. From the team behind the StepLobe Main Book, reviewed by 28 physicians led by Prof. Malihe Amirian, MD.
Is there a print edition?+
Yes. The full-color paperback is coming to Amazon soon. The digital edition here is the same book, available today for less.
Does the book include the question banks?+
No. The banks, flashcards and study plan are in StepLobe Pro. The Complete Step 1 Vault ($249) includes this book, every other StepLobe book and 12 months of Pro.
Is this an official USMLE or NBME book?+
No. StepLobe is not affiliated with or endorsed by the FSMB, the NBME or the USMLE program. It's original study material, not medical advice.
USMLE® is a joint program of the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) and the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME). StepLobe is not affiliated with or endorsed by the FSMB, the NBME or the USMLE program. For study only. Not medical advice. © Opaline Clinique Limited. Launch price until 30 Nov 2026.
