Pharmacology Exam 1 Study Guide PDF

Pharmacology Exam 1 Study Guide Chapters 3 and 4 Pharmacodynamics and Pharmacokinetics Vocabulary Questions with Answers (3 and 4) 1.​ Define pharmacokinetics and list its four processes.​ Answer: Pharmacokinetics is the process of drug movement throughout the body to achieve drug ac...

Pharmacology Exam 1 Study Guide Chapters 3 and 4 Pharmacodynamics and Pharmacokinetics Vocabulary Questions with Answers (3 and 4) 1.​ Define pharmacokinetics and list its four processes.​ Answer: Pharmacokinetics is the process of drug movement throughout the body to achieve drug action. The four processes are absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion. 2.​ What is drug dissolution, and why is it important for oral medications?​ Answer: Drug dissolution is the process by which a solid drug becomes a solution to be absorbed into the bloodstream. It is essential for oral medications because it ensures the drug can be absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. 3.​ What are excipients, and what role do they play in drug formulation?​ Answer: Excipients are inert substances added to drugs to provide specific size, shape, and enhance dissolution. 4.​ Define disintegration and dissolution in the context of drug absorption.​ Answer: Disintegration is the breakdown of oral drugs into smaller particles. Dissolution is the process of these particles combining with a liquid to form a solution for absorption. 5.​ What is the first-pass effect, and how does it affect drug bioavailability?​ Answer: The first-pass effect occurs when drugs are metabolized in the liver before reaching systemic circulation, reducing the amount of active drug available. 6.​ What is bioavailability, and what factors influence it?​ Answer: Bioavailability is the percentage of administered drug available for activity. Factors include drug form, route of administration, gastric motility, food intake, and liver metabolism. 7.​ Differentiate between passive transport, active transport, and pinocytosis.​ Answer: Passive transport involves movement down a concentration gradient without energy. Active transport requires energy and a carrier protein. Pinocytosis involves cells engulfing the drug in vesicles. 8.​ Define the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and its function.​ Answer: The BBB is a tightly packed endothelial lining of brain blood vessels that protects the brain by restricting drug entry. 9.​ What is a prodrug, and how does it differ from an active drug?​ Answer: A prodrug is an inactive compound metabolized into an active drug in the body, designed to enhance bioavailability or target-specific actions. 10.​What is the half-life of a drug, and how is it calculated?​ Answer: The half-life is the time it takes for half the drug in the body to be eliminated. It depends on drug metabolism and excretion rates. 11.​Define and distinguish between highly protein-bound and weakly protein-bound drugs.​  Answer: Highly protein-bound drugs bind >90% to plasma proteins, whereas weakly protein-bound drugs bind