19: Adrenegic-Blocking Drugs Key Terms

Front 1

acrocyanosis

Back 1

decreased amount of oxygen delivered to the extremities, causing the feet or hads to turn blue

Front 2

adrenergic receptors

Back 2

specific receptor sites located throughout the body for the endogenous sympathetic neurotransmitters norepinephrine and epinephrine

Front 3

agonists

Back 3

drugs with a specific receptor affinity that mimic the body's natural chemicals (e.g. hormones, neurotransmitters)

Front 4

angina

Back 4

paroxysmal (sudden) chest pain caused by myocardial ischemia

Front 5

antagonists

Back 5

drugs that bind to specific receptors and inhibit or block the response of the receptors

Front 6

dysrhythmias

Back 6

irregular heart rhythms; almost always called "arrhythmias" in clinical practice

Front 7

extravasation

Back 7

the leaking of fluid from a blood vessel into the surrounding tissues as in the case of an infiltrated intravenous infusion

Front 8

first-dose phenomenon

Back 8

severe and sudden drop in blood pressure after the administratio of the first dose of an alpha-adrenergic blocker

Front 9

intrinsic sympathomimetic activity

Back 9

the paradoxical action of some beta-blocking drugs (e.g. acebutolol) that mimics the action of the sympathetic nervous system

Front 10

lipophilicity

Back 10

the chemical attraction of a substance (e.g. drug molecule) to lipid or fat molecules

Front 11

orthostatic hypotension

Back 11

a sudden drop in blood pressure when a person stands up. Also referred to as "postural hypotension" or "orthostasis"

Front 12

pheochromocytoma

Back 12

a vascular adrenal gland tumor that is usually benign but secretes epinephrine and norephinephrine and thus often causes central nervous system stimulation and substantial blood pressure elevation

Front 13

Raynaud's disease

Back 13

a narrowing of small arteries that limits the amount of blood circulation to the extremities, causing numbness of the nose, fingers, toes, and ears in response to cold temperatures or stress

Front 14

sypatholytics

Back 14

drugs that inhibit the postganglionic functioning of the sympathetic nervous system