Drugs, nutrition and the Foetus

Question 1

What are the 4 stages of pharmacokinetics?

Answer 1

Absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion (of drugs following administration)

Question 2

Factors affecting pharmacokinetics (3)

Answer 2

Physiochemical properties of the drug
Physiological factors
Patient-specific factors

Question 3

What are some physiological barriers to distribution? (4)

Answer 3

The blood brain barrier (separates central nervous system from vascular system)
Barrier in Kidney
The placental Barrier
Important transporters

Question 4

The placental barrier is _______ meaning many chemical substances can still cross.

Answer 4

Porous

Question 5

Alcohol is an _______ molecule

Answer 5

amphiphilic (can pass placental barrier due to lipophilic properties)

Question 6

Most alcohol foetal syndromes are due to ______

Answer 6

Malnutrition

Question 7

Nicotine passes through the placental membrane by binding to _____ ______ _______.

Answer 7

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors

Question 8

What are alcohol foetal syndromes?

Answer 8

A condition (brain damage/growth problem) in a child as a result of alcohol exposure during pregnancy.

Question 9

_______ are substances which are potentially harmful to the embryo/foetus after the pregnant mother is exposed to the substance.

Answer 9

Teratogens