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60 Cards in this Set

  • Front
  • Back
homeostasis
maintenance of an environment of body functions within a certain range (e.g. temperature, blood pressure)
blood-brain barrier
structure that prevents many drugs from entering the brain
semipermeable
allowing some, but not all, chemicals to pass
lipophilic
the extent to which chemicals can be dissolved in oils and fats
receptors
recognition mechanisms that respond to specific chemical signals
action potential
the electrical signal transmitted along the axon when a neuron fires
neurotransmitters
chemical messengers released from neurons and having brief, local effects
hyperpolarized
when the membrane potential is more negative
depolarized
when the membrane is less negative
acetylcholine
neurotransmitter found in the parasympathetic branch in the cerebral cortex
autonomic
the part of the nervous system that controls involuntary functions, such as heart rate
sympathetic
the branch of the autonomic system involved in flight or fight reactions
parasympathetic
the branch of the autonomic system that stimulates digestion, slows the heart, and has other effects associated with a relaxed physiological state
norepinephrine
neurotransmitter that may be important for regulating waking and appetite
central nervous system
brain and spinal cord
basal ganglia
subcortical brain structures controlling muscle ton
Parkinson's disease
degenerative neurological disease involving damage to dopamine neurons in the basal ganglia
serotonin
neurotransmitter found in the raphe nuclei, may be important for impulsivity, depression
nucleus accumbens
a collection of neurons in the forebrain thought to play an important role in emotional reactions to events
dopamine
neurotransmitter found in the basal ganglia and other regions
mesolimbic dopamine pathway
one of two major dopamine pathways; may be involved in psychotic reactions and in drug dependence
schizophrenia
a mental disorder characterized by chronic psychosis
nigrostriatal dopamine pathway
one of two major dopamine pathways; damaged in Parkinson's disease
precursors
chemicals that are acted on by enzymes to form neurotransmitters
GABA
inhibitory neurotransmitter found in most regions of the brain
glutamate
excitatory neurotransmitter found in most regions of the brain
endorphin
opiate-like chemical that occurs naturally in the brain of humans and other animals
uptake
energy-requiring mechanism by which selected molecules are taken into cells
synthesis
the forming of a neurotransmitter by the action of enzymes on precursors
enzyme
large molecule that assists in either the synthesis or metabolism of another molecule
synapse
the space between neurons
transporter
mechanism in the nerve terminal membrane responsible for removing neurotransmitter molecules from the synapse by taking them back into the neuron
metabolize
to break down or inactivate a neurotransmitter (or a drug) through enzymatic action
agonist
a substance that facilitates or mimics the effects of a neurotransmitter on the postsynaptic cell
antagonist
a substance that prevents the effects of a neurotransmitter on the postsynaptic cell
monoamine
a class of chemicals characterized by a single amine group; monoamine neurotransmitters include dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin
generic
a name that specifies a particular chemical, but not a particular brand
placebo
an inactive drug
double-blind procedure
experiment in which neither the doctor nor the patient know which drug is being used
dose-response curve
a graph comparing the size of response to the amount of drug
ataxia
uncoordinated walking
comatose
unconscious and unable to be aroused
ED50
effective dose for half of the animals tested
LD50
lethal dose for half of the animals tested
therapeutic index
ration of LD50 to ED50
safety margin
dosage difference between an acceptable level of effectiveness and the lowest toxic dose
side effects
unintended effects that accompany therapeutic effects
potency
measured by the amount of drug required to produce an effect
time course
timing of the onset, duration, and termination of a drug's effect
cumulative effect
effects of giving multiple doses of the same drug
lipid solubility
tendency of a chemical to dissolve in fat, as opposed to water
intravenous
injection directly into a vein
subcutaneous
injection under the skin
intramuscular
injection into a muscle
metabolite
product of enzyme action on a drug
active metabolites
metabolites that have drug actions of their own
prodrugs
drugs that are inactive until acted on by enzymes in the body
drug disposition tolerance
tolerance caused by more rapid elimination of the drug
behavioral tolerance
tolerance caused by learned adaptation to the drug
pharmacodynamic tolerance
tolerance caused by altered nervous system sensitivity