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Paramedic Class > Vocabulary 13 > Flashcards

Vocabulary 13 Flashcards

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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
Q

Competitive depolarizing

A

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

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26
Q

Contraindication

A

Any condition, especially any condition of disease, that renders some particular line of treatment improper or undesirable

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27
Q

Cross-tolerance

A

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

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28
Q

Cumulative action

A

Several smaller doses of a particular medication capable of producing the same clinical effects as a single larger dose of that same medication

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29
Q

Cytochrome P-450 system

A

A hemoprotein involved in the detoxification of many drugs

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30
Q

Dependence

A

The physical, behavioral, or emotional need for a medication or chemical to maintain “normal” physiologic function

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31
Q

Depolarization

A

The process of discharging resting cardiac muscle fibers by an electric impulse that causes them to contract

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32
Q

Depressant

A

A chemical or medication that decreases the performance of the central nervous system or sympathetic nervous system

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33
Q

Digitalis preparation

A

A drug used in the treatment of heart failure and certain atrial dysrhythmias

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34
Q

Distribution

A

The movement and transportation of a medication throughout the bloodstream to tissues and cells and, ultimately, to its target receptor

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35
Q

Diuretic

A

A chemical that increases urinary output

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36
Q

Dose-response curve

A

A graphic illustration of the response to a drug according to the dose administered

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37
Q

Dosing

A

The specified amount of a medication to be given at specific intervals

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38
Q

Down-regulation

A

The process in which a mechanism reducing available cell receptors for a particular medication results in tolerance

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39
Q

Drug

A

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

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40
Q

Duration (of action)

A

In a pharmacologic context, the time a medication concentration can be expected to remain above the minimum level needed to provide the intended action

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41
Q

Dystonic

A

Pertaining to voluntary muscle movements that are distorted or impaired because of abnormal muscle tone

42
Q

Ectopic foci

A

Sites of generation of electrical impulses other than normal pacemaker cells

43
Q

Efficacy

A

In a pharmacologic context, the ability of a medication to produce the desired effect

44
Q

Elimination

A

In a pharmacologic context, the removal of a medication or its by-products from the body

45
Q

Endogenous

A

Originating from within the organism (body)

46
Q

Exogenous

A

Originating outside the organism (body)

47
Q

Extravasation

A

Seepage of blood and medication into the tissue surrounding the blood vessel

48
Q

Facilitated diffusion

A

The process of medication molecules binding with carrier proteins when no energy is expended

49
Q

Fasciculation

A

Brief, uncoordinated, visible twitching of small muscle groups; may be caused by the administration of a depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agent (namely, succinylcholine)

50
Q

Filtration

A

Use of hydrostatic pressure to force water or dissolved particles through a semipermeable membrane

51
Q

First-order elimination

A

The process in which the rate of elimination is directly influenced by plasma levels of a substance

52
Q

First-pass effect

A

The alteration of a medication via metabolism within the gastrointestinal tract before it reaches systemic circulation

53
Q

Habituation

A

The unusual tolerance to the therapeutic and adverse clinical effects of a medication or chemical

54
Q

Half-life

A

The time needed in an average person for metabolism or elimination of 50% of a substance in the plasma

55
Q

Hematocrit

A

The percentage of red blood cells in a blood sample

56
Q

Hemolysis

A

The destruction of red blood cells by disruption of the cell membrane

57
Q

Hydrophilic

A

Attracted to water molecules

58
Q

Idiosyncratic

A

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
Q

Inactive metabolite

A

A medication that has undergone biotransformation and is no longer able to alter a cell process or body function; not pharmacologically active

60
Q

Indication

A

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
Q

Interference

A

One medication or chemical taken by a patient that undermines the effectiveness of another medication taken by or administered to the patient

62
Q

Lipophilic

A

Attracted to fats and lipids

63
Q

Mechanism of action

A

The way in which a medication produces the intended response

64
Q

Median effective dose (ED50)

A

The weight-based dose of a medication that was effective in 50% of the humans and animals tested

65
Q

Median lethal dose (LD50)

A

The weight-based dose of a medication that caused death in 50% of the animals tested

66
Q

Median toxic dose (TD50)

A

The weight-based dose of a medication that demonstrated toxicity in 50% of the animals tested

67
Q

Medication

A

A substance used to treat an illness or condition

68
Q

Medication monograph

A

A document that gives detailed information about drugs, such as the indications and uses, dosing information, precautions, contraindications, and adverse effects

69
Q

Medication sensitivity

A

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
Q

Noncompetitive antagonists

A

Medications that permanently bind with receptor sites and prevent activation by agonist chemicals

71
Q

Nondepolarizing

A

A term used to describe drugs that produce muscle relaxation by interfering with impulses between the nerve ending and muscle receptor

72
Q

Nonionic

A

Uncharged

73
Q

Onset

A

The time needed for the concentration of the medication at the target tissue to reach the minimum effective level

74
Q

Orthostatic hypotension

A

A fall in blood pressure when changing to a standing position

75
Q

Osmosis

A

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
Q

Osmotic

A

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
Q

Paradoxical

A

Opposite from expected

78
Q

Partial agonist

A

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
Q

Peak

A

In a pharmacologic context, the point of maximum effect of a drug

80
Q

Pharmacodynamics

A

The biochemical and physiologic effects and mechanism of action of a medication in the body

81
Q

Pharmacokinetics

A

The activity of medications in the body over time, such as absorption, distribution, and elimination

82
Q

Pharmacology

A

The scientific study of how various substances interact with or alter the function of living organisms

83
Q

Pinocytosis

A

A process by which cells ingest the extracellular fluid and its contents

84
Q

Placebo effect

A

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
Q

Plasma protein binding

A

A process in which medication molecules temporarily attach to proteins in the blood plasma, significantly altering medication distribution in the body

86
Q

Potency

A

The relationship between the desired response to a medication and the dose required to achieve the response

87
Q

Receptor

A

A specialized area in tissues that initiates certain actions after specific stimulation

88
Q

Relative refractory period

A

The period in the cell-firing cycle at which it is possible but difficult to restimulate the cell to fire another impulse

89
Q

Stevens-Johnson syndrome

A

A severe, possibly fatal reaction that mimics a burn; may be due to a medication

90
Q

Stimulant

A

A medication or chemical that temporarily enhances central nervous system and sympathetic nervous system functioning

91
Q

Sympathomimetics

A

Medications administered to stimulate the sympathetic nervous system

92
Q

Tachyphylaxis

A

A condition in which repeated doses of medication within a short period rapidly cause tolerance, making the medication virtually ineffective

93
Q

Therapeutic index

A

The relationship between the median effective dose and the median lethal dose or median toxic dose; also known as the therapeutic ratio

94
Q

Threshold level

A

In a pharmacologic context, the concentration of medication at which initiation or alteration of cellular activity begins

95
Q

Tolerance

A

A condition that develops following repeated use by a patient of a medication that results in decreased efficacy or potency

96
Q

Untoward effect

A

A clinical change caused by a medication that causes harm or discomfort to a patient; also known as adverse effect

97
Q

Vasoconstriction

A

Narrowing of the diameter of a blood vessel

98
Q

Vasodilation

A

Widening of the diameter of a blood vessel

99
Q

Vaughan-Williams classification

A

A classification scheme based on the mechanism of action rather than on specific medication groups

100
Q

Volume of distribution

A

The extent to which a medication will spread within the body

101
Q

Water-soluble

A

A property that indicates a material can be dissolved in water

102
Q

Zero-order elimination

A

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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