Orientation to Pharmacology and Autonomic Nervous System Vocabulary

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering fundamental concepts in pharmacology, medication safety, nervous system divisions, receptor types, and autonomic drugs.

Metabolism

How the body transforms and processes medications.

Absorption

How medication moves from the entry point to the body's circulation.

Distribution

How medication spreads to the body tissues and fluids from the bloodstream.

Excretion

How the body eliminates medications.

Polypharmacy

The use of multiple medications simultaneously by a patient.

Teratogens

Medications that negatively affect fetal development.

Efficacy

How effective a medication is in producing a desired therapeutic response.

Parenteral

Administration of medication via IV, IM, or Subq routes.

Neurons

Nervous system cells that send and receive messages from the body to the brain and vice versa.

Nerve

A bundle of neuronal axons that create and transmit electrical signals in the PNS.

Sensory Receptor

The part of a cell that is specialized to respond to specific stimuli.

Afferent Nerves

Nerves responsible for transferring sensory information from the body to the CNS.

Efferent Nerves

Nerves responsible for transferring motor commands from the CNS to the body.

Ganglia

A collection of nerve cell bodies located outside of the central nervous system.

Motor Endings

The portions of motor nerves in the PNS that terminate at target organs.

Synapse

The space between neurons in the nervous system where neurotransmitters are released to convey signals.

Ganglion

A collection of nerve cell bodies in which pre- and postganglionic nerves meet and communicate.

Neurotransmission

The transference of information via a nerve impulse.

Neuromuscular Junction

The synapse between peripheral nerves and muscle fibers.

Acetylcholine (ACh)

A neurotransmitter responsible for excitatory effects in the nervous system, used in both the SNS and PSNS.

Norepinephrine (NE)

A neurotransmitter and hormone of the CNS and PNS responsible for the sympathetic response, typically released in response to low BP or HR.

Epinephrine (Epi)

A neurotransmitter and hormone of the CNS and PNS responsible for the sympathetic nervous system response, also known as adrenaline.

Mydriasis

Dilation of the pupil, which is an expected physiological response to decreased light exposure.

Adverse Drug Reactions

Unexpected and unintended effects of medications.

Side Effects

Common and expected secondary drug effects, such as sedation with antihistamines.

Toxicity

Detrimental physiologic effects caused by excessive medication dosing.

Idiosyncratic Effect

An uncommon drug response resulting from a genetic predisposition.

Clinical Judgment

The process of thinking critically and deciding what's next, utilizing ADPIE.

Central Nervous System (CNS)

Division of the nervous system composed of the brain and spinal cord that collects information, interprets findings, and forms responses.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

All nervous system tissue outside of the brain and spinal cord, divided into the SNS and PSNS.

Somatic Nervous System

Part of the PNS that supports voluntary movement of skeletal muscles.

Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)

Involuntary division of the PNS that controls internal organs, consisting of the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems.

$\alpha_1$ Receptors

Adrenergic receptors located in blood vessels, eyes, and the GI tract; stimulation causes vasoconstriction, increased blood pressure, and pupil dilation.

$\alpha_2$ Receptors

Adrenergic receptors located primarily in the CNS and presynaptic nerve terminals that turn down SNS activity and decrease norepinephrine release.

$\beta_1$ Receptors

Adrenergic receptors located in the heart and kidneys; stimulation increases heart rate, force of contraction, cardiac conduction, and renin release.

$\beta_2$ Receptors

Adrenergic receptors located in the lungs, liver, uterus, GI tract, and bladder; stimulation causes smooth muscle relaxation, bronchodilation, and glycogenolysis.

Selective Drugs

Medications that primarily target one specific receptor type, yielding focused therapeutic effects with fewer unwanted side effects.

Nonselective Drugs

Medications that affect multiple receptor types, causing widespread physiological effects and more side effects.

Agonist Medications

Drugs that bind to and activate receptors, mimicking natural neurotransmitters to produce the expected receptor response.

Antagonist Medications

Drugs that block receptors to prevent endogenous neurotransmitters from activating them, decreasing or preventing the expected response.

Partial Agonist Medications

Drugs that activate receptors less strongly than full agonists and can compete with or block full agonists at receptor sites.

Adrenergic Agonists

Also known as sympathomimetics; medications that mimic the sympathetic nervous system by activating alpha and/or beta receptors.

Epinephrine (Adrenalin)

Nonselective adrenergic agonist that activates $\alpha_1$, $\alpha_2$, $\beta_1$, and $\beta_2$ receptors to produce broad sympathomimetic effects.

Phenylephrine (Neo-Synephrine)

A selective $\alpha_1$ adrenergic agonist used topically for nasal decongestion and parenterally to elevate blood pressure.

Albuterol

An adrenergic agonist that selectively stimulates $\beta_2$ receptors in the lungs to induce bronchial smooth muscle relaxation and bronchodilation.

Clonidine

An adrenergic agonist that agonizes $\alpha_2$ receptors in the CNS to reduce sympathetic outflow from the central nervous system.

Propranolol

A nonselective beta-blocker that blocks stimulation of both $\beta_1$ and $\beta_2$ receptors of the SNS.

Metoprolol

A cardioselective beta-blocker that selectively blocks $\beta_1$ receptors in the myocardium and cardiac conduction system.

Cholinergic Agonists

Medications that increase acetylcholine levels or directly stimulate cholinergic receptors to promote rest-and-digest responses.

DUMBBELLS Mnemonic

Mnemonic for cholinergic crisis/toxicity: Diaphoresis, Urination, Miosis, Bradycardia, Bronchospasm, Emesis, Lacrimation, Loose stool, Salivation.

Bethanechol

A direct-acting cholinergic agonist that stimulates muscarinic receptors to cause bladder contraction and relieve nonobstructive urinary retention.

Pilocarpine

A cholinergic agonist that stimulates muscarinic receptors to increase salivary gland secretion and induce miosis.

Nicotine

A cholinergic agonist that provides a source of nicotine to lessen withdrawal symptoms associated with tobacco cessation.

Atropine

A cholinergic antagonist (anticholinergic) that blocks acetylcholine at postganglionic muscarinic receptor sites in the PNS.

Scopolamine

An anticholinergic medication that inhibits acetylcholine release in the CNS, used for motion sickness and post-operative nausea/vomiting.