exam deck 2

Question 1

What is pharmacology?

Answer 1

Pharmacology is the study of the effects of chemical substances on the function of living systems, including mechanisms of action, uses, adverse effects, and the fate of drugs in the body.

Question 2

What are the main types of drug targets?

Answer 2

The main drug targets are proteins such as enzymes, carriers, ion channels, and receptors.

Question 3

What does “specificity” mean in pharmacology?

Answer 3

Specificity refers to the selective interaction between a drug and its target, where a specific drug binds to a specific target, although no drug is completely specific, leading to side effects.

Question 4

What are the two stages of drug-receptor interaction?

Answer 4

the two stages are binding (the drug attaches to the receptor) and activation (the drug induces a tissue response).

Question 5

Define “agonist.”

Answer 5

An agonist is a drug that binds to a receptor and activates it, causing a physiological response

Question 6

What is an antagonist?

Answer 6

An antagonist is a drug that binds to a receptor but does not activate it, preventing agonists from binding and causing a response.

Question 7

What is the difference between a full agonist and a partial agonist?

Answer 7

A full agonist produces a maximal tissue response, while a partial agonist causes only a submaximal response.

Question 8

Define “affinity” in pharmacology.

Answer 8

Affinity is a drug’s ability to bind to a receptor.

Question 9

What does “efficacy” mean regarding drug action?

Answer 9

Efficacy is a drug’s ability to activate a receptor after binding, leading to a physiological response.

Question 10

Why is understanding normal body functions important in pharmacology?

Answer 10

Understanding normal biochemistry and physiology is essential to understand how drugs modify these processes in health and disease.

Question 11

What kind of curve does a dose response curve produce

Answer 11

Sigmoid

Question 12

what does competitive antagonism do to the curve

Answer 12

causes a right shift without affecting the slope

Question 13

what do partial agonist produce

Answer 13

submaximal Response

Question 14

What is the primary function of the endocrine system?

Answer 14

To enable long-distance communication between cells to maintain homeostasis and regulate physiological systems.

Question 15

Define endocrinology.

Answer 15

The study of endocrine glands, hormones, and their roles in regulating the physiology of an organism.

Question 16

How do endocrine glands release hormones?

Answer 16

Hormones are released directly into the bloodstream and travel to distant target cells with the appropriate receptors.

Question 17

What distinguishes endocrine glands from exocrine glands?

Answer 17

Endocrine glands are ductless and release hormones into the bloodstream, while exocrine glands release substances through ducts to specific target areas.

Question 18

What is a hormone?

Answer 18

A chemical secreted by an endocrine gland that travels through the blood to a target organ and produces a specific effect.

Question 19

How do hormones ensure specificity in their actions?

Answer 19

Only cells with receptors specific to a hormone will respond to that hormone.

Question 20

List some key features of hormones.

Answer 20

Synthesis, storage, receptor-mediated action, high potency, homeostatic function, and tight regulation to limit activity.

Question 21

Why must hormone activity be tightly regulated?

Answer 21

To prevent prolonged or excessive action, which can be harmful, as seen with insulin in blood glucose regulation.

Question 22

What are the different patterns of hormone release?

Answer 22

Constant concentration (e.g., thyroid hormones), episodic release (e.g., insulin), and rhythmic release (e.g., growth hormone linked to circadian rhythms).

Question 23

What are the three main classes of hormones based on chemical structure?

Answer 23

Peptide, steroid, and amine hormones.

Question 24

How are peptide hormones stored and released?

Answer 24

They are pre-synthesized, stored in vesicles, and released via Ca2+-stimulated exocytosis.

Question 25

What type of receptors do peptide hormones bind to?

Answer 25

Cell surface receptors, as they are hydrophilic and cannot cross cell membranes.

Question 26

What is the precursor for steroid hormones?

Answer 26

Cholesterol

Question 27

How do steroid hormones interact with their target cells?

Answer 27

They cross the cell membrane and bind to intracellular receptors, often influencing gene expression.

Question 28

Why do steroid hormones have a longer half-life?

Answer 28

They are bound to plasma carrier proteins, which protect them from rapid degradation.

Question 29

From which amino acids are amine hormones derived?

Answer 29

Tyrosine and tryptophan.

Question 30

What are the two main types of amine hormones?

Answer 30

Catecholamines, which act like peptide hormones, and thyroid hormones, which behave more like steroid hormones.

Question 31

What is a second messenger, and which hormones typically use them?

Answer 31

A molecule that relays signals from cell surface receptors to target molecules inside the cell; commonly used by peptide hormones.

Question 32

Describe the signal transduction process of steroid hormones.

Answer 32

They enter the cell, bind to intracellular receptors, and form a complex that acts as a transcription factor to regulate gene expression.