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Paramedic Class > Vocabulary 13 > Flashcards

Vocabulary 13 Flashcards

1
Q

Absolute refractory period

A

The early phase of cardiac repolarization, wherein the heart muscle cannot be stimulated to depolarize; also known as the effective refractory period

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2
Q

Absorption

A

The process by which the molecules of a substance are moved from the site of entry or administration into systemic circulation

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3
Q

Acetylcholinesterase

A

An enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine

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4
Q

Active metabolite

A

A medication that has undergone biotransformation and is able to alter a cellular process or body function

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5
Q

Active transport

A

The process of molecules binding with carrier proteins when energy is used to move the molecules against a concentration gradient

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6
Q

Adverse effect

A

Abnormal or harmful effect to an organism caused by exposure to a chemical; it is indicated by some result such as death, a change in food or water consumption, altered body and organ weights, altered enzyme levels, or visible illness

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7
Q

Affinity

A

The ability of a medication to bind with a particular receptor site

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8
Q

Agonist medications

A

The group of medications that initiates or alters cellular activity by attaching to receptor sites, prompting a cellular response

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9
Q

Analgesia

A

The state of being insensible to pain while still conscious

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10
Q

Anaphylaxis

A

An extreme systematic form of an allergic reaction involving two or more body systems

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11
Q

Anesthetic

A

A medication that causes the inability to feel sensation

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12
Q

Antagonist medications

A

The group of medications that prevent endogenous or exogenous agonist chemicals from reaching cell receptor sites and initiating or altering a particular cellular activity

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13
Q

Antibiotics

A

The medications used to fight infection by killing the microorganisms or preventing their multiplication to allow the body’s immune system to overcome them

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14
Q

Antifungals

A

The medications used to treat fungal infections

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15
Q

Antimicrobials

A

The medications used to kill or suppress the growth of microorganisms

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16
Q

Automaticity

A

A state in which cardiac cells are at rest, waiting for the generation of a spontaneous impulse from within

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17
Q

Bioavailability

A

The percentage of the unchanged medication that reaches systemic circulation

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18
Q

Biotransformation

A

A process with four possible effects on a medication absorbed into the body:
1) an inactive substance can become active, capable of producing desired or unwanted clinical effects
2) an active medication can be changed into another active medication
3) an active medication may be completely or partially inactivated
4) a medication is transformed into a substance (active or inactive) that is easier for the body to eliminate

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19
Q

Bronchoconstriction

A

Narrowing of the bronchial tubes

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20
Q

Bronchodilation

A

Widening of the bronchial tubes

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21
Q

Chelating agents

A

Medications that bind with heavy metals in the body and create a compound that can be eliminated; used in cases of ingestion or poisoning

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22
Q

Cholinergic

A

A term used to describe the fibers in the parasympathetic nervous system that release a chemical called acetylcholine

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23
Q

Class

A

The grouping to which a medication belongs; medications are grouped according to their characteristics, traits, or primary components

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24
Q

Competitive antagonists

A

Medications that temporarily bind with chemical receptor sites, displacing agonist chemicals

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25
Competitive depolarizing
A term used to describe paralytic agents that act at the neuromuscular junction by binding with nicotinic receptors on muscles, causing fasciculations and preventing additional activation by acetylcholine
26
Contraindication
Any condition, especially any condition of disease, that renders some particular line of treatment improper or undesirable
27
Cross-tolerance
A process in which repeated exposure to a medication within a particular class causes a tolerance that may be “transferred” to other medications in the same class
28
Cumulative action
Several smaller doses of a particular medication capable of producing the same clinical effects as a single larger dose of that same medication
29
Cytochrome P-450 system
A hemoprotein involved in the detoxification of many drugs
30
Dependence
The physical, behavioral, or emotional need for a medication or chemical to maintain “normal” physiologic function
31
Depolarization
The process of discharging resting cardiac muscle fibers by an electric impulse that causes them to contract
32
Depressant
A chemical or medication that decreases the performance of the central nervous system or sympathetic nervous system
33
Digitalis preparation
A drug used in the treatment of heart failure and certain atrial dysrhythmias
34
Distribution
The movement and transportation of a medication throughout the bloodstream to tissues and cells and, ultimately, to its target receptor
35
Diuretic
A chemical that increases urinary output
36
Dose-response curve
A graphic illustration of the response to a drug according to the dose administered
37
Dosing
The specified amount of a medication to be given at specific intervals
38
Down-regulation
The process in which a mechanism reducing available cell receptors for a particular medication results in tolerance
39
Drug
A substance that has some therapeutic effect (such as reducing inflammation, fighting bacteria, or producing euphoria) when given in the appropriate circumstances and in the appropriate dose
40
Duration (of action)
In a pharmacologic context, the time a medication concentration can be expected to remain above the minimum level needed to provide the intended action
41
Dystonic
Pertaining to voluntary muscle movements that are distorted or impaired because of abnormal muscle tone
42
Ectopic foci
Sites of generation of electrical impulses other than normal pacemaker cells
43
Efficacy
In a pharmacologic context, the ability of a medication to produce the desired effect
44
Elimination
In a pharmacologic context, the removal of a medication or its by-products from the body
45
Endogenous
Originating from within the organism (body)
46
Exogenous
Originating outside the organism (body)
47
Extravasation
Seepage of blood and medication into the tissue surrounding the blood vessel
48
Facilitated diffusion
The process of medication molecules binding with carrier proteins when no energy is expended
49
Fasciculation
Brief, uncoordinated, visible twitching of small muscle groups; may be caused by the administration of a depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agent (namely, succinylcholine)
50
Filtration
Use of hydrostatic pressure to force water or dissolved particles through a semipermeable membrane
51
First-order elimination
The process in which the rate of elimination is directly influenced by plasma levels of a substance
52
First-pass effect
The alteration of a medication via metabolism within the gastrointestinal tract before it reaches systemic circulation
53
Habituation
The unusual tolerance to the therapeutic and adverse clinical effects of a medication or chemical
54
Half-life
The time needed in an average person for metabolism or elimination of 50% of a substance in the plasma
55
Hematocrit
The percentage of red blood cells in a blood sample
56
Hemolysis
The destruction of red blood cells by disruption of the cell membrane
57
Hydrophilic
Attracted to water molecules
58
Idiosyncratic
In a pharmacologic context, abnormal susceptibility to a medication, possibly due to genetic traits or dysfunction of a metabolic enzyme, that is peculiar to an individual patient (and usually unexplained)
59
Inactive metabolite
A medication that has undergone biotransformation and is no longer able to alter a cell process or body function; not pharmacologically active
60
Indication
A circumstance that points to or shows the cause, pathology, treatment, or issue of an attack of disease; that which serves as a guide or warning
61
Interference
One medication or chemical taken by a patient that undermines the effectiveness of another medication taken by or administered to the patient
62
Lipophilic
Attracted to fats and lipids
63
Mechanism of action
The way in which a medication produces the intended response
64
Median effective dose (ED50)
The weight-based dose of a medication that was effective in 50% of the humans and animals tested
65
Median lethal dose (LD50)
The weight-based dose of a medication that caused death in 50% of the animals tested
66
Median toxic dose (TD50)
The weight-based dose of a medication that demonstrated toxicity in 50% of the animals tested
67
Medication
A substance used to treat an illness or condition
68
Medication monograph
A document that gives detailed information about drugs, such as the indications and uses, dosing information, precautions, contraindications, and adverse effects
69
Medication sensitivity
A mild to severe reaction after the first exposure to a medication or other substance, often with many of the same signs and symptoms as an immune-mediated reaction
70
Noncompetitive antagonists
Medications that permanently bind with receptor sites and prevent activation by agonist chemicals
71
Nondepolarizing
A term used to describe drugs that produce muscle relaxation by interfering with impulses between the nerve ending and muscle receptor
72
Nonionic
Uncharged
73
Onset
The time needed for the concentration of the medication at the target tissue to reach the minimum effective level
74
Orthostatic hypotension
A fall in blood pressure when changing to a standing position
75
Osmosis
The movement of a solvent, such as water, from an area of low solute concentration to one of high concentration through a selectively permeable membrane to equalize concentrations of a solute on both sides of the membrane
76
Osmotic
Characterized by the movement of a solvent, such as water, across a semipermeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to one of higher concentration
77
Paradoxical
Opposite from expected
78
Partial agonist
A chemical that binds to the receptor site but does not initiate as much cellular activity or change as other agonists do; lowers the efficacy of other agonist chemicals present at the cells
79
Peak
In a pharmacologic context, the point of maximum effect of a drug
80
Pharmacodynamics
The biochemical and physiologic effects and mechanism of action of a medication in the body
81
Pharmacokinetics
The activity of medications in the body over time, such as absorption, distribution, and elimination
82
Pharmacology
The scientific study of how various substances interact with or alter the function of living organisms
83
Pinocytosis
A process by which cells ingest the extracellular fluid and its contents
84
Placebo effect
In a pharmacologic context, the positive and negative effects of an inactive medication on a person that are related to the person’s expectations and other factors
85
Plasma protein binding
A process in which medication molecules temporarily attach to proteins in the blood plasma, significantly altering medication distribution in the body
86
Potency
The relationship between the desired response to a medication and the dose required to achieve the response
87
Receptor
A specialized area in tissues that initiates certain actions after specific stimulation
88
Relative refractory period
The period in the cell-firing cycle at which it is possible but difficult to restimulate the cell to fire another impulse
89
Stevens-Johnson syndrome
A severe, possibly fatal reaction that mimics a burn; may be due to a medication
90
Stimulant
A medication or chemical that temporarily enhances central nervous system and sympathetic nervous system functioning
91
Sympathomimetics
Medications administered to stimulate the sympathetic nervous system
92
Tachyphylaxis
A condition in which repeated doses of medication within a short period rapidly cause tolerance, making the medication virtually ineffective
93
Therapeutic index
The relationship between the median effective dose and the median lethal dose or median toxic dose; also known as the therapeutic ratio
94
Threshold level
In a pharmacologic context, the concentration of medication at which initiation or alteration of cellular activity begins
95
Tolerance
A condition that develops following repeated use by a patient of a medication that results in decreased efficacy or potency
96
Untoward effect
A clinical change caused by a medication that causes harm or discomfort to a patient; also known as adverse effect
97
Vasoconstriction
Narrowing of the diameter of a blood vessel
98
Vasodilation
Widening of the diameter of a blood vessel
99
Vaughan-Williams classification
A classification scheme based on the mechanism of action rather than on specific medication groups
100
Volume of distribution
The extent to which a medication will spread within the body
101
Water-soluble
A property that indicates a material can be dissolved in water
102
Zero-order elimination
A process in which a fixed amount of a substance is removed during a certain period, regardless of the total amount in the body

Paramedic Class (12 decks)

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