Bell Forensic Toxicology Vocab

HOSA Toxicology vocab from bell

Forensic Toxicology

Examination of all aspects of toxicity that may have legal implications

Occupational Toxicology

Study of chemical hazards in the workplace

Environmental Toxicology

Study of toxic chemicals present in the environment

Postmortem Drug Testing

Death investigation to determine whether drugs caused or contributed to death

Workplace Drug Testing

Testing employees or job applicants for drugs of abuse

Cause of Death

The injury, disease, or poison responsible for death

Manner of Death

Classification of death as accidental, suicidal, homicidal, natural, or undetermined

Drug of Abuse

A drug used improperly for nonmedical purposes

ADME

Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, and Excretion of a drug in the body

Absorption

Movement of a drug into the bloodstream

Distribution

Movement of a drug through the body to target tissues

Metabolism

Chemical alteration of a drug, primarily in the liver

Excretion

Elimination of drugs and metabolites from the body, mainly through urine

Bioavailability

Percentage of a drug that reaches systemic circulation

Parent Drug

Original drug before metabolism

Metabolite

Product formed when the body chemically alters a drug

Oral Ingestion

Taking a drug by mouth

Blood

Most important toxicology specimen because drug concentration often correlates with effects and lethality

Urine

Preferred specimen for workplace and sports drug testing

Gastric Contents

Stomach contents examined for recently ingested substances

Vitreous Humor

Fluid inside the eyeball used in postmortem toxicology because it resists decomposition

Bile

Fluid from the liver that may contain high concentrations of drugs

Breath Alcohol Testing

Estimation of blood alcohol concentration using breath alcohol concentration

Opiates

Pain-relieving depressant drugs derived from or related to morphine

Morphine

Natural opiate derived from the opium poppy

Codeine

Natural opiate used for pain relief

Heroin

Semisynthetic opiate made from morphine

Semisynthetic Opiates

Drugs made by modifying morphine or codeine molecules

Hydrocodone, Hydromorphone, Oxycodone, Oxymorphone

Semisynthetic opiate pain relievers

OxyContin

Sustained-release form of oxycodone

Fentanyl

Powerful synthetic opiate associated with fatal overdoses

Synthetic Opiates

Opiates produced entirely through chemical synthesis

Depressants

Drugs that slow central nervous system activity

Euphoria

Intense feeling of pleasure or well-being

Respiratory Depression

Slowing of breathing caused by depressant drugs

Amphetamine

Central nervous system stimulant

Methamphetamine

Potent stimulant drug often synthesized illegally

Stimulants

Drugs that increase activity of the central nervous system

Ephedrine

Medication that can be used as a precursor for methamphetamine production

Pseudoephedrine

Decongestant used as a precursor for methamphetamine synthesis

Phenylephrine

Decongestant related to amphetamine compounds

Phenmetrazine

Appetite suppressant related to amphetamines

Anorexic

Appetite-suppressing drug

Precursors

Starting chemicals used to synthesize drugs

Bath Salts

Synthetic stimulant drugs sold under misleading labels

Mephedrone

Synthetic stimulant commonly found in bath salts

Cocaine

Natural stimulant derived from coca leaves

Cocaine Hydrochloride

Salt form of cocaine commonly encountered as powder cocaine

Free Base Cocaine

Cocaine prepared to allow smoking

Crack Cocaine

Smokeable form of cocaine chemically similar to free base cocaine

Benzoylecgonine

Major cocaine metabolite used in urine drug testing

Methylecgonine

Metabolite formed from cocaine in blood

Cannabinoids

Psychoactive compounds from Cannabis sativa

Marijuana

Plant material from Cannabis sativa containing cannabinoids

Hashish

Concentrated cannabis extract with higher THC levels

THC

Tetrahydrocannabinol, the primary psychoactive cannabinoid

11-OH-THC

Active metabolite of THC

9-Carboxy-THC

Inactive major urinary metabolite of THC

Cannabinomimetics

Synthetic compounds that mimic cannabinoids

K2 and Spice

Synthetic cannabinoid product

JWH Compounds

Synthetic cannabinoids named after John W. Huffman

Polypharmacy

Use or presence of multiple drugs simultaneously

Pharmaceutical Materials

Prescription and over-the-counter medications examined in toxicology

Ethanol

Beverage alcohol

Methanol

Toxic alcohol metabolized to formaldehyde and formic acid

Isopropanol

Alcohol that may cause poisoning

Acetaldehyde

Major metabolite of ethanol

Acetic Acid

Metabolite formed during ethanol metabolism

Volume of Distribution

Value used to estimate blood concentration from dose and body weight

DUI

Driving under the influence

Blood Alcohol Concentration

Amount of alcohol present in blood

Gas Chromatography

Analytical technique used to separate compounds

Cyanide

Poison that blocks cellular energy production

Hydrogen Cyanide

Rapidly acting gaseous form of cyanide

Cytochrome Oxidase

Enzyme inhibited by cyanide poisoning

Electron Transport System

Cellular pathway for energy generation disrupted by cyanide

Nitrite Antidote

Treatment that converts hemoglobin to methemoglobin during cyanide poisoning

Methemoglobin

Form of hemoglobin that binds cyanide

Cyanomethemoglobin

Less toxic complex formed between cyanide and methemoglobin

Carbon Monoxide

Poisonous gas produced by incomplete combustion

Carboxyhemoglobin

Hemoglobin bound to carbon monoxide

Hemoglobin Dissociation Curve

Relationship between oxygen binding and release by hemoglobin

Screening Test

Initial presumptive toxicology test

Presumptive Test

Preliminary test suggesting the presence of a substance

Confirmatory Test

Highly specific test used to verify screening results

Immunoassay

Screening test using antibodies to detect drugs

Antibody

Protein that specifically binds an antigen

Antigen

Substance recognized by an antibody

Chemiluminescence

Production of light during a chemical reaction

Thin-Layer Chromatography

Separation technique using a silica-coated plate

TLC

Thin-layer chromatography

Chromatography

Separation of compounds based on movement through different phases

Mobile Phase

Moving phase in chromatography

Silica Gel

Solid stationary phase used in TLC

Gas Chromatography (GC)

Chromatographic separation using a carrier gas

Carrier Gas

Inert gas that moves compounds through a GC column

Column

Long tube where chromatographic separation occurs

Stationary Phase

Material that remains fixed inside a chromatographic system

Retention Time

Time required for a compound to pass through a chromatographic column

Mass Spectrometry

Identification of compounds based on mass-to-charge ratios