Nursing Pharmacology Study Guide Questions
and Correct Answers
1). Absorption
Ans: the process by which drug molecules move from their site of administration to the
blood
2). Affinity
Ans: the ability of some tissues to attract, accumulate and store drugs in high
concentrations relative to other tissues
3). Blood-brain barrier
Ans: Blood vessels (capillaries) that selectively let certain substances enter the brain
tissue and keep other substances out
4). Diffusion
Ans: process by which molecules tend to move from an area where they are more
concentrated to an area where they are less concentrated
5). Distribution
Ans: the transport of drugs throughout the body after they are absorbed
6). Drug-protein complexes
Ans: formed when a drugh that binds reversibly to a plasma protein, particularly
albumin, that makes the drug unavailable for distribution to its site of action
7). Enterohepatic recirculation
Ans: recycling of drugs and other substances by the circulation of bile through the
intestine and liver
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, 8). Enzyme induction
Ans: process by whick a drug increases the activity of the hepatic microsomal
enzymes
9). Excretion
Ans: the process of removing substances from the body
10). First-pass effect
Ans: mechanism whereby drugs are absorbed enter into the hepatic portal circulation
and are inactivated by the liver before they reach the general circulation
11). Fetal-placental barrier
Ans: special anatomic barrier that inhibits many chemicals and drugs from entering the
fetus
12). Hepatic microsomal enzyme system
Ans: as it relates to phamacotherapy, liver enzymes that metabolize drugs as well as
nutrients and other endogenous substances, sometimes called the P-450 System
13). Isozymes
Ans: multiple similar forms of an enzyme that perform slightly different metabolic
functions
14). Loading dose
Ans: relatively large dose of a drug given at the beginning of treatment to rapidly obtain
a therapeutic response
15). Maintenance doses
Ans: amount of drug that keeps the plasma drug concentration in the therapeutic range
16). Metabolism
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and Correct Answers
1). Absorption
Ans: the process by which drug molecules move from their site of administration to the
blood
2). Affinity
Ans: the ability of some tissues to attract, accumulate and store drugs in high
concentrations relative to other tissues
3). Blood-brain barrier
Ans: Blood vessels (capillaries) that selectively let certain substances enter the brain
tissue and keep other substances out
4). Diffusion
Ans: process by which molecules tend to move from an area where they are more
concentrated to an area where they are less concentrated
5). Distribution
Ans: the transport of drugs throughout the body after they are absorbed
6). Drug-protein complexes
Ans: formed when a drugh that binds reversibly to a plasma protein, particularly
albumin, that makes the drug unavailable for distribution to its site of action
7). Enterohepatic recirculation
Ans: recycling of drugs and other substances by the circulation of bile through the
intestine and liver
PaperStoc.com Page 1 of 12
, 8). Enzyme induction
Ans: process by whick a drug increases the activity of the hepatic microsomal
enzymes
9). Excretion
Ans: the process of removing substances from the body
10). First-pass effect
Ans: mechanism whereby drugs are absorbed enter into the hepatic portal circulation
and are inactivated by the liver before they reach the general circulation
11). Fetal-placental barrier
Ans: special anatomic barrier that inhibits many chemicals and drugs from entering the
fetus
12). Hepatic microsomal enzyme system
Ans: as it relates to phamacotherapy, liver enzymes that metabolize drugs as well as
nutrients and other endogenous substances, sometimes called the P-450 System
13). Isozymes
Ans: multiple similar forms of an enzyme that perform slightly different metabolic
functions
14). Loading dose
Ans: relatively large dose of a drug given at the beginning of treatment to rapidly obtain
a therapeutic response
15). Maintenance doses
Ans: amount of drug that keeps the plasma drug concentration in the therapeutic range
16). Metabolism
PaperStoc.com Page 2 of 12
