Pharmacology (NURS 251) - Topic 2
(Pharmacological Principles) Exam Questions
and Correct Answers, 100% Correct. 2024/2025.
What is a drug?
Any chemical that affects the physiological processes of a living organism
What is pharmacology?
Study or science of drugs
What is the chemical name?
Describes the drug's chemical composition and structure
What is the generic name?
Name for a drug approved by Health Canada
What is the trade name?
Manufacturers name for a drug (has a registered trademark)
What is pharmacokinetics?
The study of what the body does to the drug
What are the components of pharmacokinetics?
Absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion (ADME)
What is absorption in pharmacokinetics?
The route a drug takes to enter the system
What is bioavailability?
Extent of drug absorption
What is first-pass effect?
Metabolism of drugs that reduces their effectiveness at site of action (ex. PO has greater first-pass than
IV)
Difference between enteral and parenteral routes?
Enteral is absorbed into circulation through mucosa (ex. oral, rectal, etc.) and parenteral is administered
directly into the blood (ex. IV, IM, etc.)
What is distribution in pharmacokinetics?
, Transportation of a drug by the bloodstream to the site of action
What do drugs attach to during distribution? Give examples.
Receptocide (insulin) and enzymes (lipase)
What are the organs with extensive blood supply (first place of distribution)?
Heart, liver, kidneys, brain
What is the most common blood protein used for distribution?
Albumin
What is metabolism/biotransformation in pharmacokinetics?
Biochemical alteration of a drug into a metabolite or soluble compound
What organ is most responsible for metabolism?
Liver
What is lipophilic?
fat loving (metabolize better in fat)
What is hydrophilic?
Water loving (metabolize better in water)
What are substrates?
A molecule acted upon by an enzyme
What do enzyme inhibitors do?
Decrease/delay metabolism
What do enzyme inducers do?
Stimulant metabolism
What is excretion in pharmacokinetics?
Elimination of drugs from the body
What is the primary organ involved in elimination?
Kidney, secondary are liver and bowel
What is half-life?
The time taken for half of the drug to be eliminated
What is steady state?
The amount of drug removed from the body during elimination (amount absorbed of each dose)
(Pharmacological Principles) Exam Questions
and Correct Answers, 100% Correct. 2024/2025.
What is a drug?
Any chemical that affects the physiological processes of a living organism
What is pharmacology?
Study or science of drugs
What is the chemical name?
Describes the drug's chemical composition and structure
What is the generic name?
Name for a drug approved by Health Canada
What is the trade name?
Manufacturers name for a drug (has a registered trademark)
What is pharmacokinetics?
The study of what the body does to the drug
What are the components of pharmacokinetics?
Absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion (ADME)
What is absorption in pharmacokinetics?
The route a drug takes to enter the system
What is bioavailability?
Extent of drug absorption
What is first-pass effect?
Metabolism of drugs that reduces their effectiveness at site of action (ex. PO has greater first-pass than
IV)
Difference between enteral and parenteral routes?
Enteral is absorbed into circulation through mucosa (ex. oral, rectal, etc.) and parenteral is administered
directly into the blood (ex. IV, IM, etc.)
What is distribution in pharmacokinetics?
, Transportation of a drug by the bloodstream to the site of action
What do drugs attach to during distribution? Give examples.
Receptocide (insulin) and enzymes (lipase)
What are the organs with extensive blood supply (first place of distribution)?
Heart, liver, kidneys, brain
What is the most common blood protein used for distribution?
Albumin
What is metabolism/biotransformation in pharmacokinetics?
Biochemical alteration of a drug into a metabolite or soluble compound
What organ is most responsible for metabolism?
Liver
What is lipophilic?
fat loving (metabolize better in fat)
What is hydrophilic?
Water loving (metabolize better in water)
What are substrates?
A molecule acted upon by an enzyme
What do enzyme inhibitors do?
Decrease/delay metabolism
What do enzyme inducers do?
Stimulant metabolism
What is excretion in pharmacokinetics?
Elimination of drugs from the body
What is the primary organ involved in elimination?
Kidney, secondary are liver and bowel
What is half-life?
The time taken for half of the drug to be eliminated
What is steady state?
The amount of drug removed from the body during elimination (amount absorbed of each dose)
