| Term | Definition |
|---|
| A/B rated | A system that compares the equivalency if be drug to that of another, especially brand to generic |
| Absence seizure | A type of generalized seizure characterized by a sudden, momentary break in consciousness; also called petit mal seizure |
| Absorption | The process whereby a drug enters the circularity system |
| Acetycholine (ACh) | A neurotransmitter that binds to ACh receptors on the membranes of muslce cells, beginning a process that ultimately results in muscle contraction |
| Acidosis | A blood pH below 7.35; a metabolic condition due to excessive loss of bicarbonate or sodium |
| Acne Vulgaris | An inflammation of the skin, usually on the face and neck, that is caused by increased activity of the sebaceous glands and puberty |
| Actinic Keratosis | A scaly skin lesion that is caused by too much sun and can lead to skin cancer |
| Active Immunity | Protection against disease that occurs as a result of coming into contact with an infection agent or an inactivated part of such an agent administered by a vaccine |
| Acute Viral Infection | An infection that quickly resolves with no latent infection |
| Addiction | A dependence characterized by a perceived need to take a drug to attain the psychological and physical affect of mood-altering substances |
| Addison's Disease | A life-threatening deficiency of glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids that is treated with the daily administration of corticosteroids |
| Aerobic | Needs oxygen to survive |
| Afferent System | The nerves that sense organs that bring information to the CNS; part of the peripheral nervous system |
| Affinity | The strength by which a particular chemical messenger binds to its receptor site on a cell |
| Afterload | Arterial impedance, or the force against which cardiac muscle shorten; along with preload and contractility, determines cardiac output |
| Agonists | Drug that bind to a particular receptor site and trigger the cell's response in a manner similar to the action of the body's own chemical messenger |
| Alkalosis | A blood pH above 7.45; a metabolic condition due to excessive loss of potassium or chloride |
| Allergic Disease | Diseases caused by and allergic reaction |
| Allergic Response | An instance in which the immune system overreacts to an otherwise harmless substance |
| Allergy | A state of heightenend sensitivity as a result of exposure to a particular substance |
| Alpha Receptors | Nerve receptors that control vasaoconstriction, pupil dilation, and relaxation of the GI smooth muscle |
| Alternative Medicine | The use of herbs, supplements, and hemeopathic remedies for medicinal purposes |
| Alzheimer's Diseases | A degenerative disorder of the brain that leads to progessive dementia and changes in personality and behavior |
| Amides | A long-acting class of local anesthetics that are metabolized by liver enzymes |
| Aminoglycosides | A class of antibiotics that inhibit bacterial protein synthesis by binding to ribosomal subunits; commonly used to treat serious infections |
| Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) | A degenerative disease of the nerves; also called Lou Gehrig's Disease |
| Anabolic Treatment | Muscle building |
| Anaerobic | Survives in the absence of oxygen |
| Analgesic | Pain relieving |
| Anaphylactic reaction | A severe allergic response resulting in immediate life-threatening respiratory distress, usually followed by vascular collapse and shock and accompanied by hives |
| Anaphylaxis | An exaggerated reaction to a foreign substance that results in severe shock with breathing difficulty and circulatory failure |
| Androgens | Hormones produced in males in the testes and in females in the ovaries |
| Angina Pectoris | Spasmodic or suffocating chest pain caused by an imbalance between oxygen supply and oxygen demand |
| Angiogenesis | The formation of new blood vessels |
| Anorexia | Loss of appetite |
| Antagonists | Drugs that bind to a receptor site and block the action of the endogenous messenger or other drugs; used to reverse benzodiazepine or narcotic overdose |
| Antibiotic | A chemical substance with the ability to kill or inhibit the growth of organisms by interfering with bacteria life process |
| Anticholinesterase | A drug that potentiates the action of acetylcholine by inhibiting the enzyme acetylcholinesterase |
| Anticoagulants | A class of drugs that prevent clot formation by affecting clotting factors |
| Antiemetics | Drugs that inhibit impulses that cause vomiting from going to the stomach |
| Antigens | Peptides that are capable under appropriate conditions of inducing a specific immune response |
| Antihistamines | Common term for drugs that block the H1 receptors |
| Antiplatelets | A class of drugs that reduce the risk of clot formation by inhibiting platelet aggregation |
| Antipsychotics | Drugs that are used to treat schizophrenia; reduce symptoms of hallucinations, delusions, and thought disorders; also called neuroleptics |
| Antipyretic | Fever reducing |
| Antirejection drugs | Medications that prevent the body from rejecting foreign solid organ transplants |
| Antiretrovirals | Drugs that limit the progression of HIV |
| Antiseptic | A substance that inhibits the growth of microorganisms without killing them |
| Antitussives | Drugs that block or suppress the act of coughing |
| Antivenin | A material used in treatment of poisoning by animal venom |
| Antivirals | Agents that prevent virus replication in a host cell without interfering with the host's normal function |
| Anxiety | A state of uneasiness characterized by apprehension and worry about possible events |
| Apocrine glands | Sweat glands found in the axillary, perineal, and genital regions |
| Apothecaries | Early pharmacists and/ or their shops |
| Aqueous humor | The liquid in the front portion of the eye |
| Arrhythmia | Any variation from the normal heartbeat |
| Arthritis | Joint inflammation; persistent pain due to functional problems of the joins |
| Ascites | The accumulation of fluids in the abdominal organs and the lower extremities |
| Aspiration | Inhalation of fluids from the mouth and throat |
| Asthma | A reversible lung disease with intermittent attacks in which inspirations is obstructed; provoked by airborne allergies |
| Atonic seizure | A type of generalized seizure characterized by sudden loss of both muscle tone and consciousness |
| Atopic eczema | A chronic pruritic eruption of unknown etiology, although allergic, herdittary, and psychogenic factors may be involve; also called atopic dermattitis |
| Attention-deficit disorder (ADD) | A neurologic disorder characterized by impulsivity and distractibility but with less hyperactivity than attention- deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) |
| Attention- deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) | A neurological disorder characterized by hyperactivity, impulsivity, and distractibility |
| Aura | A subjective sensation or motor phenomenon that precedes and marks the onset of a migraine headache |
| Autonomic nervous system (ANS) | The part of the efferent system of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) that regulates activities of body structures not under voluntary contorl |
| B cells | anitbody- producting lymphocytes that are involved in humoral immunity |
| Bacteria | Small, single-celled microorganisms that exist in the three main forms: spherical (i.e., cocci), rod shaped (i.e., bacilli), and spiral (i.e., spirilla) |
| Bactericidal agent | An agent that kills the invading organism |
| Basal nuclei | Symmetric, subcortical masses of gray matter embedded in the lower portions of the cerebral hemisphere; part of the extra-pyramidal system; also called basal ganglia |
| Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) | Abnormal enlargement of the prostate gland, usually associated with aging |
| Beta blocker | A Class II antiarrhythmic drug that competitively blocks response to beta stimulation, which results in decreases in heart rate, myocardial contractility, blood pressure, and myocardial oxygen demand; used to treat arrhythmias, MIs, and angina |
| Beta-1 receptors | Nerve receptors on the heart that control the rate and strength of the heartbeat |
| Beta-2 receptors | Nerve receptors that control the smooth muscle of the airway |
| Bioavailability | The degree to which a drug or other substances becomes available to the target tissue after administration |
| Biologic- response modifiers | Agents that alter the expression and response to surface antigens and enhance immune cell activities in ways that promote destruction of human malignancies |
| Biopharmaceuticals | vbfb |
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