Chapter 3

Question 1

Estimated # of neurons in the human brain?

Answer 1

100 billion

Question 2

Estimated # of synapses?

Answer 2

10-100 trillion

Question 3

Total electrical power generated in the brain?

Answer 3

20-25 wattage

Question 4

intravenous?

Answer 4

into the vein

Question 5

intramuscular?

Answer 5

into the muscle

Question 6

subcutaneous?

Answer 6

underneath the skin

Question 7

intranasal?

Answer 7

applied to the mucous membranes of the nose

Question 8

sublingual?

Answer 8

applied under the tongue

Question 9

transdermal patch?

Answer 9

A device attached to the skin that slowly delivers the drug through skin absorption

Question 10

biotransformation?

Answer 10

The process of changing the molecular structure of a drug into forms that make it
easier for the body to excrete it

Question 11

metabolite?

Answer 11

A by-product resulting from the biotransformation process

Question 12

elimination half-life?

Answer 12

The length of time it takes for a drug to be reduced to 50% of its equilibrium level in the bloodstream

Question 13

latency period?

Answer 13

An interval of time during which the blood levels of a drug are not yet sufficient for a drug effect to be observed

Question 14

synergism?

Answer 14

The property of a drug interaction in which the combination effect of two drugs exceeds the effect of either drug administered alone

Question 15

How do drugs enter the body?

Answer 15

-oral administration (by mouth)
-injection
-inhalation
-absorption through skin/membranes

Question 16

potentiation?

Answer 16

the property of a synergistic drug interaction in which one drug combined with another drug produces an enhanced effect when one of the drugs alone would have had no effect

Question 17

cross-tolerance?

Answer 17

a phenomenon in which the tolerance that results from the chronic use of one drug
induces a tolerance effect with regard to a second drug that has not been used before

Question 18

cross-dependence?

Answer 18

a phenomenon in which one drug can be used to reduce the withdrawal symptoms following the discontinuance of another drug

Question 19

what is diazepam?

Answer 19

Valium; an anti-anxiety medication

Question 20

central nervous system (CNS)?

Answer 20

the portion of the nervous system that has the spinal cord and brain

Question 21

peripheral nervous system (PNS)?

Answer 21

the portion of the nervous system that has nerves and nerve fibers that carry info to the CNS and outward to muscles and glands

Question 22

sympathetic branch of the ANS?

Answer 22

the portion of the autonomic nervous system
that controls bodily changes that deal w/ stressful or emergency situations

Question 23

parasympathetic branch of the ANS?

Answer 23

the portion of the autonomic nervous system that controls the bodily changes that lead to
increased nurturance, rest, and maintenance

Question 24

neuron?

Answer 24

the specialized cell in the nervous system
designed to receive and transmit information

Question 25

cerebral cortex?

Answer 25

the portion of the fore brain devoted to a high level of information processing

Question 26

synapse?

Answer 26

the juncture between neurons. It consists of a synaptic knob, the intervening gap, and receptor sites on a receiving neuron

Question 27

neurotransmitter?

Answer 27

a chemical substance that a neuron uses to communicate information at the synapse

Question 28

reuptake?

Answer 28

the process by which a neurotransmitter returns from the receptor site to the synaptic knob

Question 29

acetylcholine?

Answer 29

a neurotransmitter active in the para sympathetic ANS, cerebral cortex, and peripheral somatic nerves

Question 30

norepinephrine?

Answer 30

A neurotransmitter active in the sympathetic ANS and in many regions of the brain

Question 31

dopamine?

Answer 31

a neurotransmitter in the brain whose activity is related to emotionality and motor control

Question 32

serotonin?

Answer 32

a neurotransmitter in the brain whose activity is related to emotionality and sleep patterns

Question 33

GABA?

Answer 33

gamma aminobutyric acid; an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. Antianxiety drugs tend to facilitate the activity level of GABA in the brain

Question 34

glutamate?

Answer 34

an excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain. Glutamate receptors are associated w/ actions of PCP and ketamine and w/ feelings of drug craving

Question 35

endorphins?

Answer 35

a class of chemical substances, produced in the brain and elsewhere in the body, that mimic the effects of morphine and other
opioid drugs

Question 36

blood-brain barrier?

Answer 36

a system whereby some substances in the bloodstream are excluded from entering the nervous system

Question 37

endocannabinoids?

Answer 37

Brain produced chemicals that mimic the effects of the active ingredient in marijuana and other cannabis products

Question 38

nucleus accumbens?

Answer 38

A region in the limbic system of the brain considered to be responsible for the rewarding effects of several drugs of abuse

Question 39

placebo?

Answer 39

Latin term translated “I will please.” Any inert substance that produces a psychological or physiological reaction.

Question 40

double-blind?

Answer 40

A procedure in drug research in which neither the individual administering a chemical sub stance nor the individual receiving it knows whether the substance is the drug being evaluated or an active placebo