Latest Comprehensive Surgical Pharmacology and Drug Management in Perioperative Care Study Guide
Introduction to Pharmacology
What Is Pharmacology?
Pharmacology is the study of drugs and their actions in the body, encompassing
various aspects such as drug sources, classifications, and effects.
Understanding pharmacology is crucial for surgical technologists to ensure safe
and effective patient care during surgical procedures.
Sources of Medicines
Medicines can be derived from various sources including animals, laboratory
synthesis, biotechnology, minerals, and plants.
Each source has its own significance and application in the development of
pharmaceuticals.•The term pharmaceutical refers to any product that is approved
for use in the human body, including drugs, implants, and grafts.
•Traditional healing with plants has guided modern pharmaceuticals, and today herbal
medicines have returned to use in modern therapy.
•What are some examples of metals, salts, or other elements used for health diagnosis or
treatment? (For example, barium is used for diagnostic procedures, and electrolytes,
4/16/2026, 1:43:23 PM
,Latest Comprehensive Surgical Pharmacology and Drug Management in Perioperative Care Study Guide
which are necessary for life, are administered to balance cell function, which depends on
electrochemical reactions.)
•Most drugs are derived from synthetic molecules. These may mimic, or act like,
substances found in nature, but have been modified to alter particular physiological effects
or to make them safer to use. Many of the plant-based drugs provide drug manufacturers
with the formulas for their synthetic counterparts. Throughout history, healers of all
cultures have used biological (natural) substances in the treatment of medical and
psychological illness. Traditional healing with plants has guided the development of
modern pharmaceuticals. Today, herbal medicines have returned to modern therapy as a
component of healing. Other biological substances include proteins and hormones derived
from animal or human sources. These are used in many different medicinal and
immunological agents and also for tissue grafting. Purified metals, salts, and other
elements are also used alone or as components of drugs. For example, barium is used for
diagnostic procedures, and electrolytes, which are necessary for life, are administered to
balance cell function, which depends on electrochemical reactions. The pharmaceutical
industry also uses biotechnology to manufacture certain drugs, including those derived
from human-made molecules and natural sources such as animal or plant substances.
Biotechnology is not the source of the drug; it is the process used in manufacturing.
Biotechnology in drug manufacturing uses genetically modified microorganisms for the
production of chemicals that are purified to form a product.
Drug Classifications
4/16/2026, 1:43:23 PM
,Latest Comprehensive Surgical Pharmacology and Drug Management in Perioperative Care Study Guide
Drugs are classified into several categories: non-prescription (OTC), prescription,
controlled substances, alternative medications, and herbal remedies.
Controlled substances are further divided into five schedules based on their
potential for abuse and medical use.Non-prescription (over-the-counter – OTC)
Prescription
Controlled substances
Ø
Carry a high risk of abuse or addiction
Ø
Schedule I, II, III, IV,
V
4/16/2026, 1:43:23 PM
, Latest Comprehensive Surgical Pharmacology and Drug Management in Perioperative Care Study Guide
Alternative medications
Ø
Herbal remedies and food
supplements
U.S. Food & Drug Administration Pregnancy and Lactation Labeling Rule (PLLR)
categories
Ø
4/16/2026, 1:43:23 PM
Introduction to Pharmacology
What Is Pharmacology?
Pharmacology is the study of drugs and their actions in the body, encompassing
various aspects such as drug sources, classifications, and effects.
Understanding pharmacology is crucial for surgical technologists to ensure safe
and effective patient care during surgical procedures.
Sources of Medicines
Medicines can be derived from various sources including animals, laboratory
synthesis, biotechnology, minerals, and plants.
Each source has its own significance and application in the development of
pharmaceuticals.•The term pharmaceutical refers to any product that is approved
for use in the human body, including drugs, implants, and grafts.
•Traditional healing with plants has guided modern pharmaceuticals, and today herbal
medicines have returned to use in modern therapy.
•What are some examples of metals, salts, or other elements used for health diagnosis or
treatment? (For example, barium is used for diagnostic procedures, and electrolytes,
4/16/2026, 1:43:23 PM
,Latest Comprehensive Surgical Pharmacology and Drug Management in Perioperative Care Study Guide
which are necessary for life, are administered to balance cell function, which depends on
electrochemical reactions.)
•Most drugs are derived from synthetic molecules. These may mimic, or act like,
substances found in nature, but have been modified to alter particular physiological effects
or to make them safer to use. Many of the plant-based drugs provide drug manufacturers
with the formulas for their synthetic counterparts. Throughout history, healers of all
cultures have used biological (natural) substances in the treatment of medical and
psychological illness. Traditional healing with plants has guided the development of
modern pharmaceuticals. Today, herbal medicines have returned to modern therapy as a
component of healing. Other biological substances include proteins and hormones derived
from animal or human sources. These are used in many different medicinal and
immunological agents and also for tissue grafting. Purified metals, salts, and other
elements are also used alone or as components of drugs. For example, barium is used for
diagnostic procedures, and electrolytes, which are necessary for life, are administered to
balance cell function, which depends on electrochemical reactions. The pharmaceutical
industry also uses biotechnology to manufacture certain drugs, including those derived
from human-made molecules and natural sources such as animal or plant substances.
Biotechnology is not the source of the drug; it is the process used in manufacturing.
Biotechnology in drug manufacturing uses genetically modified microorganisms for the
production of chemicals that are purified to form a product.
Drug Classifications
4/16/2026, 1:43:23 PM
,Latest Comprehensive Surgical Pharmacology and Drug Management in Perioperative Care Study Guide
Drugs are classified into several categories: non-prescription (OTC), prescription,
controlled substances, alternative medications, and herbal remedies.
Controlled substances are further divided into five schedules based on their
potential for abuse and medical use.Non-prescription (over-the-counter – OTC)
Prescription
Controlled substances
Ø
Carry a high risk of abuse or addiction
Ø
Schedule I, II, III, IV,
V
4/16/2026, 1:43:23 PM
, Latest Comprehensive Surgical Pharmacology and Drug Management in Perioperative Care Study Guide
Alternative medications
Ø
Herbal remedies and food
supplements
U.S. Food & Drug Administration Pregnancy and Lactation Labeling Rule (PLLR)
categories
Ø
4/16/2026, 1:43:23 PM
