The future implementation of new curricula for medicine will reduce theoretical programmes of physiology and increase practical learning. The programmes of 20 out of Spain's 23 medical universities were examined to establish baseline practice before the commencement of curricular reform. During 1991–92, the programme of each medical university was requested and examined. The teaching order or sequence for different systems of physiology, how common each system was, the number of practical lessons, and the most commonly recommended books were established. A lack of uniformity was found among the different universities in physiology teaching. This makes it difficult to establish a common baseline and may obscure the benefits of curricular reform.