Exam 2 terminology Flashcards
Describe the blood brain barrier
Specialized anatomic arrangement of cerebral capillary walls that serve to restrict passage of some drugs to the brain
Describe arrhythmia
Significant deviation from normal cardiac rhythm resulting in slower or faster heart rate
Describe BDNF
Brain derived neurotropic factor
Protein produced in the brain that helps sustain neuronal activity and growth
May be important in mediating the effects of antidepressants and other CNS drugs
Describe Akathisia
Feeling of extreme motor restlessness and an inability to sit still, may result from antipsychotic drug therapy
Describe Dyskinesia
Involuntary movements like tremors
May result from antiparkinsons and antipsychotic drugs
Describe epigenetic factors
Process that affects gene activity by chemically modifying genetic material rather than changing DNA.
Describe Neuroleptic
Term used to describe antipsychotic drugs that produce apathy, sedation, decreased initiative, and decreased responsiveness in patients
Describe psychosis
severe mental illness, though disturbance and impaired perception of reality
Describe tardive dyskinesia
Movement disorder of involuntary fragmented movements of the mouth, face and jaw
May result from prolonged administration of antipsychotic drugs
Describe epilepsy
Recurrent seizures manifested as brief periods of altered consciousness, involuntary motor actions and vivid sensory phenomena
Describe anticholinergics
Decrease the activity of acetylcholine receptors
Diminish activity of the parasympathetic nervous system
Describe COMT
Catechol - O - methyltransferase
Enzyme that degrades levodopa to an inactive metabolite
COMT inhibitors help to protect the levodopa drug in Parkinson’s patients
Describe dopamine
Neurotransmitter in the the CNS, important in motor control and behavior
Describe drug holidays
When a drug is withdrawn from a patient to allow for recovery from toxicity
Describe End of dose akinesia
When the effectiveness of a dose wears off towards the end of its dosing interval, lack of volitional movement in the patient
Describe Parkinson disease
Bradykinesia, rigidity, resting tremor, postural instability
Neurotransmitter abnormalities in the basil ganglia
Describe the on-off phenomena
fluctuation in response when medication effectiveness diminishes between doses
Describe an epidural nerve block
Administration of local anesthesia into the spinal canal between the vertebral column and dura matter
Describe a spinal nerve bock
Administration of local anesthesia into subdural space
Describe local anesthesia
loss of sensation to a small part of the body without loss of consciousness
Describe an amide
chemical linkage found in some local anesthetics involving carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen
Describe an ester
type of chemical linkage found in local anesthetics with carbon and oxygen
Describe Spasticity
Occurs following an injury to the spinal cord
Describe spasms
involuntary un-relaxable muscle tension resulting from certain MSK injuries
