Cell Pathophysiology, Pharmacology, Genetics, and Stress Adaptation Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards synthesized from 5 lecture documents covering pharmacology, cellular pathophysiology, genetics, pharmacogenomics, and stress response principles.

Therapeutic Effect

The intended physiological benefit of a medication, such as lisinopril lowering blood pressure.

Indication

The specific clinical condition for which a medication is prescribed.

Pharmacologic Class

A group of medications categorized by their specific mechanism of action, such as ACE inhibitors.

Therapeutic Class

A group of medications categorized by their clinical treatment use, such as antihypertensives.

Generic Name

The official, nonproprietary chemical name of a medication used in drug references, of which there is only one per drug.

Brand (Trade) Name

The trademarked name of a drug chosen by the manufacturer for marketing purposes.

Bioavailability

The percentage of active drug that reaches systemic circulation after administration.

First-Pass Effect

The reduction of active drug concentration due to liver metabolism before reaching systemic circulation, primarily affecting oral medications.

Phase I Metabolism (Oxidation)

An enzymatic reaction, primarily involving CYP450 enzymes in the liver, that introduces or exposes a functional group ($-\text{OH}$, $-\text{NH}_2$, or $-\text{SH}$) on a drug molecule.

Phase II Metabolism (Conjugation)

An enzymatic reaction that attaches a large, water-soluble molecule to a drug or Phase I metabolite to facilitate renal or biliary excretion.

Therapeutic Index (TI)

The therapeutic ratio between effective doses and toxic doses of a drug, determining the need for clinical monitoring.

Receptor Agonist

A drug molecule that binds to and activates a specific receptor to produce a full biological response.

Receptor Antagonist

A drug molecule that binds to a receptor and blocks it, preventing or inhibiting a response.

Additive Effect

A drug interaction where the combined physiological effect of two drugs equals the sum of their individual effects ($1 + 1 = 2$).

Synergistic Effect

A drug interaction where the combined physiological effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects ($1 + 1 > 2$).

Etiology

The specific cause or origin of a disease condition.

Pathognomonic Change

A unique, specific structural or functional alteration that definitively identifies a particular disease.

Cellular Atrophy

A decrease in individual cell size caused by protein degradation and autophagy in response to decreased workload or stress.

Cellular Hypertrophy

An increase in individual cell size resulting in enlarged tissue mass due to increased workload or stimulation.

Cellular Hyperplasia

An increase in the total number of cells within a tissue or organ resulting from increased mitotic activity.

Metaplasia

The reversible replacement of one fully differentiated adult cell type by another adult cell type better suited to withstand chronic irritation.

Dysplasia

Deranged cellular growth resulting in cells that vary in size, shape, and architectural organization; considered a precursor to cancer.

Neoplasia

Uncontrolled, autonomous, and abnormal cellular growth that can be either benign or malignant.

Brain Ischemic Tolerance

The duration of severe oxygen deprivation brain tissue can tolerate before irreversible injury begins, defined as $3\text{--}6\,minutes$.

Apoptosis

An organized, energy-dependent process of programmed cell death designed to eliminate unwanted or damaged cells without causing inflammation.

Caseous Necrosis

A unique form of tissue death resulting in a soft, cheesy appearance, classically seen in tuberculosis infection.

Human Genome Project (HGP)

An international scientific initiative active from $1990$ to $2003$ that mapped all human genes and sequenced the $\,3 \times 10^9$ base pairs of human DNA.

Transcription

The process occurring in the cell nucleus where an RNA polymerase enzyme uses a DNA template to synthesize a complementary mRNA strand.

Translation

The process occurring at the ribosome where mRNA codons are decoded by tRNA to assemble amino acids into a protein.

Gene Locus

The precise physical location of a gene on a chromosome, specified by chromosome number, arm ($p$ or $q$), region, band, and sub-band.

Karyotype

An organized photographic arrangement of all $46$ chromosomes ($23$ pairs) isolated from a human cell.

Genotype

The specific genetic makeup or allele combination of an individual.

Phenotype

The observable physical or clinical expression resulting from an individual's genotype.

Genetic Penetrance

The percentage or ratio of individuals carrying a specific genotype who actually express the corresponding clinical phenotype.

Genetic Expressivity

The degree or range of clinical severity with which a specific phenotype is expressed among individuals with the same genotype.

Multifactorial Inheritance

A pattern of inheritance where traits or disorders result from a complex interaction of multiple polygenic variants and environmental triggers.

Knudson's "Two-Hit" Hypothesis

The principle stating that both alleles of a tumor suppressor gene must undergo inactivating mutations for cancer to develop.

Aneuploidy

A condition characterized by an abnormal total number of chromosomes other than the standard $46$.

Chromosomal Translocation

A structural mutation in which a segment from one chromosome breaks off and attaches to a non-homologous chromosome.

Genogram

A detailed visual pedigree mapping family medical histories, relationships, and genetic patterns across at least three generations.

Pharmacogenomics

The study of how individual genetic variations influence physiological responses to medication administration.

Eustress

A form of positive stress that stimulates and motivates an individual constructively.

Distress

Negative stress that overwhelms coping mechanisms and induces harmful physical or psychological effects.

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)

Hans Selye's theoretical model describing the body's physical response to stress through Alarm, Resistance, and Exhaustion stages.

Allostasis

The dynamic state of physiological balance maintained through bodily adaptation to recurring stressors.

Allostatic Load

The cumulative physiological wear and tear inflicted on body systems by continuous stress and adaptive responses.

Allostatic Overload

The point at which cumulative stress exceeds the body's capacity to adapt, leading to pathophysiological disorders.

Stage IV Decubitus Ulcer

A full-thickness pressure ulcer featuring extensive tissue destruction extending down to underlying muscle, tendon, or bone.