Principles of Pharmacology
Assignment 3 & 4
1. Define the following terms:
a. Absorption:
Drugs enter the body and pass into the circulation to reach the part of the body it
needs to affect through the processes of diffusion, osmosis, and filtration.
b. Additive effect:
When 2 drugs are given together and either make one drug stronger or make the
action of the 2 drugs more powerful.
c. Adverse reaction:
Severe symptoms or problems that can cause great harm.
d. Agonist:
Drugs that work by activating or unlocking cell receptors causing the same actions as
the body’s own chemicals.
e. Allergy:
An antigen-antibody response that can cause hives, rashes, itching, or swelling,
f. Anaphylactic reaction:
A severe life-threatening form of an allergic reaction.
g. Antagonist:
Drugs that attach at a drug receptor site but do not activate or unlock the receptor.
h. Bioequivalent:
Drug products that are chemically the same or identical.
i. Biotransformation:
The transformation or altering of a drug into either active or inactive chemicals after it
has been absorbed.
j. Brand name: (trade name)
The proprietary name that a manufacturer gives to a specific drug.
k. Buccal: Drug placement against the cheek.
l. Chemical name:
The names of the chemicals that actually form the drug.
K Rowe LVN Page 1 of 16 Rev: Dec. 2018
, Principles of Pharmacology
Assignment 3 & 4
m. Desired action:
The drug does what it was intended to do.
n. Distribution:
Movement of a drug in the body to reach its site of action by way of the blood and
lymph sytem.
o. Drug interaction:
When one drug changes the action of another drug.
p. Enteral (route):
Giving a drug by way of the gastrointestinal system; oral, feeding tube, sublingual, and
rectally.
q. First-pass (effect):
After they are consumed, the drugs are inactivated in the liver before being distributed
to other parts of the body.
r. Generic name: (nonproprietary name)
Most common name used by the manufacturer in all countries.
s. Half-life:
The time it takes the body to remove 50% of the drug from the body.
t. Hepatotoxic:
Adverse drug effects that can cause liver damage.
u. Hypersensitivity:
An exaggerated response to a drug. An allergy is an example of a hypersensitivity
response.
v. Idiosyncratic response:
Responses to a drug that are peculiar and unpredicted.
w. Nephrotoxic:
Adverse drug effects that can cause kidney damage.
K Rowe LVN Page 2 of 16 Rev: Dec. 2018
, Principles of Pharmacology
Assignment 3 & 4
x. Parenteral (route):
Giving a drug by way of an injection or an infusion underneath the skin.
y. Partial agonist:
Drugs that attach to the receptor site but produce only a partial effect rather than a
full effect.
z. Percutaneous (route):
Giving a drug by way of absorption throught the skin. Topical creams, patches, or
devices etc.
aa. Pharmacodynamics:
The effects of a drug on body function. (What a drug does to the body)
bb. Pharmacokinetics:
The metabolism of a drug within the the body. ( What the body does to the drug)
cc. Receptor site:
Small “Lock-Key” areas of cell membranes that control what substances either enter
the cell or change its activity.
dd. Side effect:
Mild but annoying responses to the drug. Nausea and headache are common and
usual side effects to many drugs.
ee. Solubility:
The ability of a drug to dissolve in body fluids.
ff. Synergistic effect:
The effect of 2 drugs taken at the same time is greater than the sum of the effects of
each drug given alone.
gg. Trade name: (Brand name)
The proprietary name that a manufacturer gives to a specific drug.
Drug Name
K Rowe LVN Page 3 of 16 Rev: Dec. 2018
Assignment 3 & 4
1. Define the following terms:
a. Absorption:
Drugs enter the body and pass into the circulation to reach the part of the body it
needs to affect through the processes of diffusion, osmosis, and filtration.
b. Additive effect:
When 2 drugs are given together and either make one drug stronger or make the
action of the 2 drugs more powerful.
c. Adverse reaction:
Severe symptoms or problems that can cause great harm.
d. Agonist:
Drugs that work by activating or unlocking cell receptors causing the same actions as
the body’s own chemicals.
e. Allergy:
An antigen-antibody response that can cause hives, rashes, itching, or swelling,
f. Anaphylactic reaction:
A severe life-threatening form of an allergic reaction.
g. Antagonist:
Drugs that attach at a drug receptor site but do not activate or unlock the receptor.
h. Bioequivalent:
Drug products that are chemically the same or identical.
i. Biotransformation:
The transformation or altering of a drug into either active or inactive chemicals after it
has been absorbed.
j. Brand name: (trade name)
The proprietary name that a manufacturer gives to a specific drug.
k. Buccal: Drug placement against the cheek.
l. Chemical name:
The names of the chemicals that actually form the drug.
K Rowe LVN Page 1 of 16 Rev: Dec. 2018
, Principles of Pharmacology
Assignment 3 & 4
m. Desired action:
The drug does what it was intended to do.
n. Distribution:
Movement of a drug in the body to reach its site of action by way of the blood and
lymph sytem.
o. Drug interaction:
When one drug changes the action of another drug.
p. Enteral (route):
Giving a drug by way of the gastrointestinal system; oral, feeding tube, sublingual, and
rectally.
q. First-pass (effect):
After they are consumed, the drugs are inactivated in the liver before being distributed
to other parts of the body.
r. Generic name: (nonproprietary name)
Most common name used by the manufacturer in all countries.
s. Half-life:
The time it takes the body to remove 50% of the drug from the body.
t. Hepatotoxic:
Adverse drug effects that can cause liver damage.
u. Hypersensitivity:
An exaggerated response to a drug. An allergy is an example of a hypersensitivity
response.
v. Idiosyncratic response:
Responses to a drug that are peculiar and unpredicted.
w. Nephrotoxic:
Adverse drug effects that can cause kidney damage.
K Rowe LVN Page 2 of 16 Rev: Dec. 2018
, Principles of Pharmacology
Assignment 3 & 4
x. Parenteral (route):
Giving a drug by way of an injection or an infusion underneath the skin.
y. Partial agonist:
Drugs that attach to the receptor site but produce only a partial effect rather than a
full effect.
z. Percutaneous (route):
Giving a drug by way of absorption throught the skin. Topical creams, patches, or
devices etc.
aa. Pharmacodynamics:
The effects of a drug on body function. (What a drug does to the body)
bb. Pharmacokinetics:
The metabolism of a drug within the the body. ( What the body does to the drug)
cc. Receptor site:
Small “Lock-Key” areas of cell membranes that control what substances either enter
the cell or change its activity.
dd. Side effect:
Mild but annoying responses to the drug. Nausea and headache are common and
usual side effects to many drugs.
ee. Solubility:
The ability of a drug to dissolve in body fluids.
ff. Synergistic effect:
The effect of 2 drugs taken at the same time is greater than the sum of the effects of
each drug given alone.
gg. Trade name: (Brand name)
The proprietary name that a manufacturer gives to a specific drug.
Drug Name
K Rowe LVN Page 3 of 16 Rev: Dec. 2018
