Final Part 1 Flashcards
What does pharmacodynamics study?
The effects of drugs on the body.
What does pharmacokinetics study?
The movement of drugs within the body.
Define a drug agonist.
A substance that activates a receptor to produce a biological response.
What is a partial agonist?
A drug that binds to a receptor but produces a smaller effect compared to a full agonist.
What is the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation used for?
Determining the pH at which ionized and un-ionized concentrations of a drug are equal.
What is a drug antagonist?
A substance that blocks or inhibits the action of an agonist.
Define ‘pharmacogenomics’.
The study of how genetic variations affect individual responses to drugs.
What is the ‘therapeutic index’?
A measure of drug safety, the ratio between the toxic dose and the therapeutic dose.
What is the role of the receptor in pharmacodynamics?
Receptors are specific proteins that drugs bind to, triggering a biological response.
What are the four basic mechanisms of transmembrane signaling?
Direct receptor crossing (lipid soluble).
Ligand-mediated enzymatic action.
Tyrosine kinase activation.
Ligand-gated ion channels.
What are G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs)?
Receptors with 7 transmembrane helices that mediate signal transduction via G-proteins.
Name a key second messenger in GPCR activation.
cAMP (cyclic adenosine monophosphate).
What is the role of ionotropic receptors?
They are ligand-gated ion channels that allow ions to pass through the membrane upon activation.
What are the primary functions of drug efflux transporters?
To remove drugs from cells and limit their accumulation.
What are the neurotransmitter classes?
Esters (e.g., ACh).
Monoamines (e.g., NE, serotonin).
Amino acids (e.g., glutamate, GABA).
Purines (e.g., ATP).
Peptides (e.g., substance P).
Inorganic gases (e.g., NO).
What is the role of alpha-1 adrenergic receptors?
They mediate smooth muscle contraction.
What is the ‘enteric nervous system’?
The gut’s own nervous system, part of the autonomic nervous system (ANS).
What effect does activation of beta-1 adrenergic receptors have on the heart?
It increases heart rate and contractility.
What is the function of muscarinic receptors in the parasympathetic nervous system?
They mediate effects such as slowing heart rate and stimulating digestion.
What is the difference between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems?
The sympathetic system typically prepares the body for ‘fight or flight,’ while the parasympathetic system promotes ‘rest and digest.’
