Autonomic Nervous System Drugs

Question 1

ANS (Autonomic Nervous System)

Answer 1

is the part of your nervous system that controls involuntary actions, such as the beating of your heart and the widening or narrowing of your blood vessels.

Question 2

SNS (Sympathetic Nervous System)

Answer 2

controls “fight-or-flight” responses

Question 3

PNS (Parasympathetic Nervous System

Answer 3

slows our heart and breathing rates, lowers blood pressure and promotes digestion.

Question 4

Neuron

Answer 4

the fundamental units of the brain and nervous system, the cells responsible for receiving sensory input from the external world, for sending motor commands to our muscles, and for transforming and relaying the electrical signals at every step in between.

Question 5

Afferent

Answer 5

the nerve fibers responsible for bringing sensory information from the outside world into the brain.

Question 6

Efferent

Answer 6

the nerve fibers responsible for carrying signals from the brain to the peripheral nervous system in order to initiate an action.

Question 7

Autonomic Drugs

Answer 7

used clinically to either imitate or inhibit the normal functions of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.

Question 8

Agonist

Answer 8

a drug that binds to the receptor, producing a similar response to the intended chemical and receptor.

Question 9

Antagonist

Answer 9

a drug that binds to the receptor either on the primary site, or on another site, which all together stops the receptor from producing a response.

Question 10

Selective Drugs

Answer 10

refers to a drug’s ability to preferentially produce a particular effect and is related to the structural specificity of drug binding to receptors.

Question 11

Non-selective Drugs

Answer 11

drugs that affects many different tissues or organs.

Question 12

Adrenergic

Answer 12

any of various drugs that mimic or interfere with the functioning of the sympathetic nervous system by affecting the release or action of norepinephrine and epinephrine.

Question 13

Cholinergic

Answer 13

a category of pharmaceutical agents that act upon the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, the primary neurotransmitter within the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS).

Question 14

Catecholamines

Answer 14

hormones that the brain, nerve tissues, and adrenal glands produce. The body releases catecholamines in response to emotional or physical stress. Catecholamines are responsible for the body’s “fight-or-flight” response. Dopamine, adrenaline, and noradrenaline are all catecholamines.

Question 15

Non-Catecholamines

Answer 15

the second group of adrenergic drugs. Non-catecholamines do not have hydroxyl groups on the benzene ring. Most non-catecholamines are effective orally. They have moderate to a poor affinity for adrenoceptors.

Question 16

Epinephrine

Answer 16

used for emergency treatment of severe allergic reactions (including anaphylaxis) to insect bites or stings, medicines, foods, or other substances.

Question 17

Albuterol

Answer 17

a type of drug called a short-acting bronchodilator. It provides relief from an asthma attack by relaxing the smooth muscles in your airways.

Question 18

Isoproterenol

Answer 18

is a drug used to treat bradycardia conditions. the drug has a structural resemblance to epinephrine.

Question 19

Acetylcholine

Answer 19

is a type of chemical messenger, or neurotransmitter, that plays a vital role in the central and peripheral nervous system. It is important for muscle control, autonomic body functions, and in learning, memory, and attention.

Question 20

Carbachol

Answer 20

is a direct acting miotic agent administered ophthalmically to decrease intraocular pressure after cataract surgery, and to induce miosis during surgery.