Adrenergic Drugs Flashcards
adrenergic receptors
receptor sites for the sympathetic neurotransmitters norepinephrine and epinephrine
adrenergic agonists
drugs that stimulate and mimic the actions of the sympathetic nervous system; also called sympathomimetics
alpha-adrenergic receptors
a class of adrenergic receptors that are further subdivided into alpha1- and alpha2-adrenergic receptors
autonomic functions
bodily functions that are involuntary and result from the physiologic activity of the autonomic nervous system; the functions often occur in pairs of opposing actions between the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions of the autonomic nervous system
autonomic nervous system
a branch of the peripheral nervous system that controls autonomic bodily functions; it consists of the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system
beta-adrenergic receptors
receptors located on postsynaptic cells that are stimulated by specific autonomic nerve fibers; beta1-adrenergic receptors are located primarily in the heart, whereas beta2-adrenergic receptors are located in the smooth muscle fibers of the bronchioles, arterioles, and visceral organs
catecholamines
substances that can produce a sympathomimetic response; they are either endogenous catecholamines (e.g. epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine) or synthetic catecholamine drugs (e.g. dobutamine)
dopaminergic receptors
a third type of adrenergic receptor (in addition to alpha-adrenergic and beta-adrenergic receptors) located in various tissues and organs and activated by the binding of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which can be either endogenous or a synthetic drug form
mydriasis
pupillary dilation, whether natural (physiologic) or drug induced
ophthalmics
drugs that are used in the eyes
positive chronotropic effect
an increase in heart rate
positive dromotropic effect
an increase in the conduction of cardiac electrical impulses through the atrioventricular node, which results in the transfer of nerve action potentials from the atria to the ventricles; this is ultimately leads to a systolic heartbeat (ventricular contractions)
positive inotropic effect
an increase in the force of contraction of the heart muscle (myocardium)
sympathomimetics
drugs used therapeutically that mimic the catecholamines epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine; also called adrenergic agonists
synaptic cleft
the space between two adjacent nerve cell membranes or between a nerve cell membrane and an effector organ cell membrane (also called synapse)
