SF - Introduction to pharmacology

Question 1

What is the definition of drug?

Answer 1

A chemical substance of known structure, other than a nutrient or an essential dietary ingredient, which, when administered to a living organism, produces a biological effect.

Question 2

What is the definition of pharmacology?

Answer 2

The study of how drugs interact with biological organisms.

Question 3

What is the definition of medicine?

Answer 3

A chemical preparation which usually contains one or more drugs and which is administered with the intention of producing a therapeutic effect.

Question 4

What is the definition of pharmacokinetics?

Answer 4

A branch of pharmacology concerned with the movement of drugs within the body.

Question 5

What is the definition of pharmacodynamics?

Answer 5

The effect of the drugs on the body.

Question 6

Why might a drug not have the desired effect?

Answer 6

• Insufficient selectivity.
• Changes in structure and function.
• Lack of knowledge of the disease process.
• Species variability.
• Drug interactions.
• Idiosyncratic reactions.

Question 7

What is the therapeutic index?

Answer 7

Quantitative measurement of the relative safety of a drug.

Question 8

What happens when a drug is administered?

Answer 8

• Absorption.
• Distribution
• Exertion of pharmacological effect.
• Metabolism.
• Excretion.

Question 9

Where in the cell do drugs act?

Answer 9

Ion channels.
Membrane receptors.
Intracellular receptors.
Intracellular enzymes.
Transporter proteins.