Chapter 13 Principles of Pharmacology: Vital Vocabulary Flashcards
The early phase of cardiac repolarization, wherein the heart muscle cannot be stimulated to depolarize; also known as the effective refractory period.
absolute refractory period
The process by which the molecules of a substance are moved from the site of entry or administration into systemic circulation.
absorption
An enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine
acetylcholinerase
A medication that has undergone biotransformation and is able to alter a cellular process or body function
active metabolite
The process of molecules binding with carrier proteins when energy is used to move the molecules against a concentration gradient
active transport
Abnormal or harmful effect to an organism caused by exposure to a chemical. It is indicated by some result such as death, a change in food or water consumption, altered body and organ weights, altered enzyme levels, or visible illness
adverse effect
The ability of a medication to bind with a particular receptor site
affinity
The group of medications that initiates or alters a cellular activity by attaching to receptor sites, prompting a cellular response
agonist medications
The state of being insensible to pain while still conscious
analgesia
An extreme systemic form of an allergic reaction involving two or more body systems
anaphylaxis
A medication that causes the inability to feel sensation
anesthetic
The group of medications that prevent endogenous or exogenous agonist chemicals from reaching cell receptor sites and initiating or altering a particular cellular activity
antagonist medications
The medications used to fight infection by killing the microorganisms or preventing their multiplication to allow the body’s immune system to overcome them
antibiotics
The medications used to treat fungal infections
antifungals
The medications used to kill or suppress the growth of microorganisms
antimicrobials
A state in which cardiac cells are at rest, waiting for the generation of a spontaneous impulse from within
automaticity
The percentage of the unchanged medication that reaches systemic circulation
bioavailability
A process with four possible effects on a medication absorbed into the body: (1) An inactive substance can become active, capable of producing desired or unwanted clinical effects. (2) An active medication can be changed into another active medication. (3) An active medication may be completely or partially inactivated. (4) A medication is transformed into a substance (active or inactive) that is easier for the body to eliminate.
biotransformation
Narrowing of the bronchial tubes
bronchoconstriction
Widening of the bronchial tubes
bronchodilation
Medications that bind with heavy metals in the body and create a compound that can be eliminated; used in cases of ingestion or poisoning
chelating agents
A term used to describe the fibers in the parasympathetic nervous system that release a chemical called acetylcholine
cholinergic
The grouping to which a medication belongs. Medications are grouped according to their characteristics, traits, or primary components
class
Medications that temporarily bind with cellular receptor sites, displacing agonist chemicals.
competitive depolarizing
Any condition, especially any condition of disease, that renders some particular line of treatment improper or undesirable.
contraindication
A process in which repeated exposure to a medication within a particular class causes a tolerance that may be “transferred” to other medications in the same clas
cross-tolerance
Several smaller doses of a particular medication capable of producing the same clinical effects as a single larger dose of that same medication
cumulative action
A hemoprotein involved in the detoxification of many drugs
cytochrome P-450 system
The physical, behavioral, or emotional need for a medication or chemical to maintain “normal” physiologic function
dependence
The process of discharging resting cardiac muscle fibers by an electric impulse that causes them to contract
dopolarization
A chemical or medication that decreases the performance of the central nervous system or sympathetic nervous system
depressant
A drug used in the treatment of heart failure and certain atrial dysrhythmias
digitalis preparation
The movement and transportation of a medication throughout the bloodstream to tissues and cells and, ultimately, to its target receptor
distribution
A chemical that increases urinary output
diuretic
A graphic illustration of the response of a drug according to the dose administered
dose-response curve
The specified amount of a medication to be given at specific intervals
dosing
The process in which a mechanism reducing available cell receptors for a particular medication results in tolerance
down-regulation
A substance that has some therapeutic effect (such as reducing inflammation, fighting bacteria, or producing euphoria) when given in the appropriate circumstances and in the appropriate dose.
drug
In a pharmacologic context, the time a medication concentration can e expected to remain above the minimum level needed to provide the intended action
duration (of action)
Pertaining to voluntary muscle movements that are distorted or impaired because of abnormal muscle tone
dystonic
Sites of generation of electrical impulses other than normal pacemaker cells
ectopic foci
In a pharmacologic context, the ability of a medication to produce the desired effect
efficacy
In a pharmacologic context, the removal of a medication or its by-products from the body
elimination
Originating from within the organism (body)
endogenous
Originating from outside the organism (body(
exogenous
Seepage of blood and medication into the tissue surrounding the blood vessel
extravasation
The process of medication molecules binding with carrier proteins when no energy is expanded
facilitated diffusion
Brief, uncoordinated, visible twitching of small muscle groups; may be caused by the administration of a depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agent (namely, succinylcholine)
fasciculation
Use of hydrostatic pressure to force water or dissolved particles through a semipermeable membrane
filtration
The process in which the rate of elimination is directly influenced by plasma levels of a substance
first-order elimination
The alteration of a medication via metabolism within the gastrointestinal tract before it reaches systemic circulation
first-pass effect
The unusual tolerance to the therapeutic and adverse clinical effects of a medication or chemical
habituation
The time needed in an average person for metabolism or elimination of 50% of a substance in the plasma
half-life
The percentage of red blood cells by disruption of the cell membrane
hemolysis
Attracted to water molecules
hydrophilic
In a pharmacologic context, abnormal susceptibility to a medication, possibly due to genetic traits or dysfunction of a metabolic enzyme, that is peculiar to an individual patient (and usually unexplained)
idiosyncratic
A medication that has undergone biotransformation and is no longer able to alter a cell process or body function; not pharmacologically active
inactive metabolite
A circumstance that points to or shows the cause, pathology, treatment, or issue of an attack of disease; that which points out; that which serves as a guide or warning
indication
One medication or chemical taken by a patient that undermines the effectiveness of another medication taken by or administered to a patient
interference
Attracted to fats and lipids
lipophilic
The way in which a medication produces the intended response
mechanism of action
The weigh-based dose of a medication that was effective in 50% of the humans and animals tested
median effective dose (ED50)
The weight-based dose of a medication that caused death in 50% of the animals tested
median lethal dose (LD50)
The weight-based dose of a medication that demonstrated toxicity in 50% of animals tested
median toxic dose (TD50)
A substance used to treat an illness or condition
medication
A document that gives detailed information about drugs, such as the indications and uses, dosing information, precaution, contraindications, and adverse effects
medication monograph
A mild to severe reaction after the first exposure to a medication or other substance , often with many of the same signs and symptoms as an immune-mediated reaction
medication sensitivity
Medications that permanently bind with receptor sites and prevent activation by agonist chemicals
noncompetitive antagonists
A term used to describe drugs that produce muscle relaxation by interfering with impulses between the nerve ending and muscle receptor
nondepolarizing
Uncharged
nonionic
The time needed for the concentration of the medication at the target tissue to reach the minimum effective level
onset
A fall in blood pressure when changing to a standing position
orthostatic hypotension
The movement of a solvent, such as water, from an area of low solute concentration to one of high concentration through a selectively permeable membrane to equalize concentrations of a solute on both sides of the membrane
osmosis
Characterized by the movement of a solvent, such as water, across a semipermeable membrane (eg, the cell wall) from an area of lower solute concentration to one of higher concentration
osmotic
Opposite from expected
paradoxical
A chemical that binds to the receptor site but does not initiate as much cellular activity or change as other agonists do; lowers the efficacy of other agonist chemicals present at the cells
partial agonist
In a pharmacologic context, the point of maximum effect of a drug
peak
The biochemical and physiologic effects and mechanism of action of a medication in the body
pharmacodynamics
The activity of medications in the body over time, such as absorption, distribution, and elimination
pharmacokinetics
The scientific study of how various substances interact with or alter the function of living organisms
pharmacology
A process by which cells ingest the extracellular fluid and it contents
pinocytosis
In a pharmacologic context, the positive and negative effects of an inactive medication on a person that are related to the person’s expectations and other factors
placebo effect
A process in which medication molecules temporarily attach to proteins in the blood plasma, significantly altering medication distribution in the body
plasma protein binding
The relationship between the desired response of a medication and the dose required to achieve the response
potency
A specialized area in tissues that initiates certain actions after specific stimulation
receptor
The period in the cell-firing cycle at which it is possible but difficult to restimulate the cell to fire another impulse
relative refractory period
A severe, possibly fatal reaction that mimics a burn; may be due to a medication
Stevens-Johnson syndrome
A medication or chemical that temporarily enhances central nervous system and sympathetic nervous system functioning
stimulant
Medications administered to stimulate the sympathetic nervous system
sympathomimetics
A condition in which repeated doses of medication within a short period rapidly cause tolerance, making the medication virtually ineffective
tachyphylaxis
The relationship between the median effective dose and the median lethal dose or median toxic dose; also known as the therapeutic ratio
therapeutic index
In a pharmacologic context, the concentration of medication at which initiation or alteration of cellular activity begins
threshold level
A condition that develops following repeated use by a patient of a medication that results in decreased efficacy or potency
tolerance
A clinical change caused by a medication that causes harm or discomfort to a patient; also known as adverse effect
untoward effect
Narrowing of the diameter of a blood vessel
vasoconstriction
Widening of the diameter of a blood vessel
vasodilation
A classification scheme based on the mechanism of action rather than on specific medication groups
Vaughan-Williams classification
The extent to which a medication will spread within the body
volume of distribution
A property that indicates a material can be dissolved in water
water-soluble
A process in which a fixed amount of a substance is removed during a certain period, regardless of the total amount in the body
zero-order elimination
