Drugs and Dissection

pharmacology

the study of the nature, uses, and effects of drugs

prescription drug

medication that may be purchased by prescription or form a licensed professional

over the counter drug

medication that may be purchased without a prescription

generic or non proprietary

a medication not protected by a brand name or trademark

agonist

substance that produces effect by binding to an appropriate receptor

antagonist

substance that inhibits a specific action by binding with a particular receptor instead of allowing the agonist to bind to the receptor

contraindication

recommendation not to use

efficacy

extent to which a drug causes the intended effects; effectiveness

placebo

inactive substance that is given for its suggestive effects or substance used as a control in an experimental setting

Oral drug administration abbreviation

PO

parenteral

route other than the GI tract

nonparenteral

route via the GI tract

intradermal abbreviation

ID

Intramuscular abbreviation

IM

Intravenous abbreviation

IV

subcutaneous abbreviations

SQ, SC, SUBC, SUBQ

Inhalation

vapors and gases taken in through the nose and mouth and absorbed into the bloodstream through the lungs

intraocular

within the eye

intraosseous

within the bone (medullary cavity of a long bone)

intraperitoneal

within the peritoneal cavity; abbreviated IP

intrathecal

within a sheath; injection of a substance through the spinal cord and into the subarachnoid space; abbreviated IT

intratracheal

within the trachea, or windpipe

percutaneous

through the skin

sublingual

under the tongue

transdermal

across the skin. Medication is stored in a patch placed on the skin, and the medication is absorbed through the skin

analgesic

substance that relieves pain without affecting consciousness

anesthetic

substance that produces a lack of sensation

antacid

substance that neutralizes stomach acid

antipyretic

substance that reduces fever

emetic

induce vomiting

antiemetic

prevents vomiting

antipruritic agent

substance that controls itching

mydriatic agent

substance used to dilate the pupils

miotic agent

substance used to constrict the pupils

anthelmintic

dewormer

antibiotic

substance that inhibits the growth of or kills bacteria. Antibiotics can be bacteriostatic or bactericidal.

bacteriostatic

which means controlling bacterial growth

bactericidal

which means killing bacteria

antitussive

substance that reduces coughing

antineoplastic agent

substance that treats neoplasms; usually used against malignancies

immunosuppressant

substance that prevents or decreases the body’s reaction to invasion by disease or foreign material

mucolytic

substance that breaks up mucus and reduces its viscosity

anticoagulant

substance that inhibits clot formation

meters

metric base unit of length equal to 1.09 yards; abbreviated m

grams

metric base unit of weight equal to 0.035 ounce; abbreviated g

dram

pothecary unit of measure used for prescription vials. One dram equals 1.8 ounce (by weight), and 1 fluid dram equals 4 mL

liter

metric base unit of volume equal to 0.2642 gallons; abbreviated L

percent

part per 100 parts; represented by %.

sx

Surgery

bx

biopsy

bid

twice daily (bis in die)

tid

three times daily (ter in die)

transect

to cut across

transfix

pierce through and through

suture

to stitch or close an area; also refers to the material used in closing a surgical or traumatic wound with stitches

ligation

act of tying

q

means every

gt/gtt

drop/drops

excisional biopsy

removing entire mass, tissue, or organ to examine

incisional biopsy

cutting into and removing part of a mass, a tissue, or an organ to examine

retractor

instrument used to hold back tissue

emasculator

instrument used in closed castrations to crush and sever the spermatic cord

elevator

instrument used to reflect tissue from bone

dehiscence

disruption or opening of the surgical wound

curettage

removal of material or growths from the surface of a cavity

ventral midline

surgical cut along the midsagittal plane of the abdomen

paracostal incision

surgical cut oriented parallel to the last rib

paramedian incision

surgical cut lateral and parallel to the ventral midline but not on the midline

needle biopsy

insertion of a sharp instrument (needle) into a tissue for extraction of tissue to be examined

Flank incision

cut perpendicular to the long axis of the body by the flank