Exam 2: Info and Topics for Chapters 5 and 6

A set of 100 vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts, terms, and definitions from Chapters 5 and 6, relevant for Exam 2.

Distribution

The process by which a drug or substance is dispersed throughout the body.

Total body water (TBW)

The total amount of fluid in the body, divided into compartments.

Volume of distribution (Vd)

A pharmacokinetic measurement that describes the extent to which a drug is distributed in body tissues.

Sequestration

The process of isolating or removing a substance from circulation.

Kd

The equilibrium dissociation constant, representing the affinity between a drug and its target.

Blood-brain barrier (BBB)

A selective permeability barrier that protects the brain from potentially harmful substances.

Placenta

An organ that connects the developing fetus to the uterine wall for nutrient and gas exchange.

Elimination

The process of removing substances from the body.

Primary routes of elimination

The main pathways through which substances are expelled from the body, including urine and feces.

Kidneys

Organs that filter blood and produce urine.

Glomerular filtration

The process by which the kidneys filter excess fluid and waste from the blood.

Tubule excretion

The process of substances being secreted into the tubular fluid of the kidneys.

Weak acid/base equilibrium

The balance between the protonated and unprotonated forms of weak acids or bases.

Feces

Solid waste material excreted from the body after digestion.

First-pass effect

The initial metabolism of a drug by the liver before it enters systemic circulation.

Lungs

Organs responsible for gas exchange in the body.

Perfusion-limited vs. ventilation limited

Two types of gas exchange limitations in the lungs.

Milk paradox

The phenomenon where certain drugs accumulate in breast milk due to their properties.

Transporters

Proteins that facilitate the movement of substances across cell membranes.

Biotransformation

The chemical modification made by an organism on a chemical compound.

TPSA (Topological Polar Surface Area)

A molecular descriptor used to predict the permeability of compounds.

LogP

The partition coefficient that measures the affinity of a substance for hydrophobic vs. hydrophilic environments.

Phase I reactions

Metabolic reactions that modify a substance without greatly changing its structure.

Phase II reactions

Conjugation reactions that increase the water solubility of substances for excretion.

Hydrolysis

The chemical breakdown of a compound due to reaction with water.

Carboxylesterase

An enzyme that hydrolyzes carboxylic esters to yield acids and alcohols.

Cholinesterase

An enzyme involved in the breakdown of acetylcholine and other choline esters.

Paraoxonase

An enzyme that acts on organophosphate compounds, requiring calcium.

Prodrug

A medication that is administered in an inactive form, which is then metabolized into an active form.

Reduction

A chemical reaction that involves the gain of electrons or hydrogen.

Oxidation

A reaction that involves the loss of electrons or hydrogen.

ADH (Alcohol dehydrogenase)

An enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of alcohols to aldehydes or ketones.

ALDH (Aldehyde dehydrogenase)

An enzyme that helps in the metabolism of aldehydes to carboxylic acids.

CYP (Cytochrome P450)

A family of enzymes important for drug metabolism.

Cofactors

Substances that need to be present for enzymes to work effectively.

N-Acetylation

A metabolic process that transfers an acetyl group to a substrate.

Methylation

The addition of a methyl group to a substance.

Glucuronidation

A metabolic reaction that adds glucuronic acid to a substrate.

Sulfonation

A reaction where a sulfonyl group is added to a substance.

Glutathione conjugation

A detoxification reaction that involves the addition of glutathione to a substrate.

Amino acid conjugation

The process of attaching amino acids to substances as a form of metabolism.

Xenosensors

Molecules that detect the presence of xenobiotics in the body.

Genetic polymorphisms

Variations in DNA sequences among individuals that may affect drug response.

Environmental influences

Factors from the environment that can affect biotransformation processes.

Enzyme induction

The process by which a substance increases the production of an enzyme.

Auto induction

When a drug increases its own metabolism over time.

Gratuitous induction

Induction of enzymes by a substance that does not require its own metabolism.

Antagonists

Substances that block the action of endogenous compounds or drugs.

General information

Basic facts or principles that need to be understood.

Capillary structure

The arrangement of blood vessels that facilitates filtration in the kidneys.

Substrate functional groups

Chemical moieties in a compound responsible for its reactivity.

Biochemical pathways

Series of chemical reactions occurring within a cell.

Detoxification pathways

Metabolic routes that convert harmful substances into less toxic forms.

Metabolite

A product of metabolism.

Reactive metabolites

Metabolites that can interact with other cellular components, often causing toxicity.

Toxicokinetics

The study of how a toxic substance enters, moves through, and leaves an organism.

Toxicodynamics

The study of the effects and mechanisms of action of toxic substances.

Pharmacodynamics

The study of how drugs affect the body.

Pharmacokinetics

The study of how drugs are absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and excreted.

Xenobiotic

A foreign substance to the body, like drugs and pollutants.

Biochemical markers

Indicators that can signal changes in metabolism.

Symptoms

Signs that indicate the presence of a disease or condition.

Therapeutic index

The ratio between the toxic and therapeutic dose of a drug.

Dose-response relationship

The correlation between the dose of a drug and its effects.

Pharmacogenomics

The study of how genes affect a person's response to drugs.

Drug-drug interactions

Changes in the effects of a drug caused by the presence of another drug.

Bioavailability

The proportion of a drug or substance that enters circulation when introduced into the body.

Half-life

The time required for the concentration of a substance in the body to be reduced by half.

Affinity

The degree to which a drug or substance binds to its target.

Mechanism of action

The specific biochemical interaction through which a drug produces its effect.