Pharmacology & Medical Terminology Flashcards

Which term describes a drug that binds to a receptor and produces a biological response?

Answer: Agonist

An agonist binds to a receptor and activates it to produce a pharmacological response.

The medical prefix 'brady-' refers to which condition?

Answer: Slow

The prefix 'brady-' means slow, as in bradycardia (slow heart rate).

Which pharmacokinetic process refers to the transformation of a drug into metabolites by the liver?

Answer: Metabolism

Metabolism is the biochemical transformation of drugs, primarily occurring in the liver via cytochrome P450 enzymes.

The suffix '-itis' in medical terminology indicates:

Answer: Inflammation

The suffix '-itis' denotes inflammation, as in appendicitis (inflammation of the appendix).

What does 'bioavailability' measure in pharmacokinetics?

Answer: The fraction of administered drug that reaches systemic circulation

Bioavailability is the fraction of an administered dose that reaches the systemic circulation unchanged.

The term 'hypertension' is best broken down as:

Answer: Over + tension

Hypertension combines 'hyper-' (above normal/excessive) with 'tension' (pressure), meaning high blood pressure.

Which drug classification is used to describe medications that reduce fever?

Answer: Antipyretic

Antipyretics are drugs that reduce fever; the prefix 'anti-' means against and 'pyretic' relates to fire/fever.