Click on a letter to view the corresponding section of the glossary:
A B C D E F G H I M N O P R S T V

A

acetylcholine (as-e-till-KOH-lean)

a chemical agent that is released by nerve endings; its effects include cardiac inhibition, increase in blood vessel diameter, and other effects

adenoma

an ordinarily benign (nonmalignant) tumor of skin tissue

aflatoxin (af-lah-TOCK-sin)

a toxic chemical produced by the Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus molds.

agonist

a drug that both binds to receptors and has an intrinsic effect

alopecia (al-oh-PEE-she-ah)

loss of hair

amino acid (ah-ME- no)

a component part of every protein, in which up to 20 different amino acids are strung together into polymer chains like beads in a necklace; the sequence of its amino acids determines a protein's structure and function; many proteins catalyze chemical reactions in the body.

anabolism

the building up in the body of complex chemical compounds from smaller simpler compounds (e.g., proteins from amino acids); see catabolismcatabolism for comparison

anaphylactoid

resembling anaphylaxis, an immediate, transient allergic reaction

anaphylaxis (an-ah-fuh-LACK-siss)

an immediate allergic reaction to a pharmacologic agent

androgen

any substance that produces masculinization, such as stosterone

anorexiant

a drug or substance that leads to anorexia or diminished appetite; appetite suppressant.

antagonist

a drug that impedes the action of another chemical substance in the body

anticoagulant (an-tee-ko-AG-you-lant)

an agent that prevents coagulation or the transformation of a liquid into a semisolid mass (as in the coagulation of blood)

atherogenic

having the capacity to start or accelerate the process of atherogenesis or the formation of lipid deposits in the arteries

atherosclerosis

The narrowing of an artery

area under the curve (AUC)

a measure of how much of a drug reaches the bloodstream in a set period of time, usually 24 hours. AUC is calculated by plotting drug blood concentration at various times during a 24-hour or longer period and then measuring the area under the curve between 0 and 24 hours as shown in the figure to the right.

apotosis (ap-oh-TOE-sis)

programmed cell death in which the cell membrane and genetic material disintegrate

arthralgia (are-THRAL-gee-ah)

severe joint pain

atopy (AT-oh-pee)

an allergic reaction with strong family tendencies

atrial fibrillation

rapid irregular twitchings of the wall of the atrium (chamber) of the heart

arrhythmia

irregular heart beat

axon (AK-son)

the long, filamentous part of a neuron (nerve cell) that carries nerve impulses away from the cell

B

beta-adrenergic antagonist (BAY-tah ah-dren-ER-jik)

also known as beta-blockers, these drugs inhibit the action of certain types of neurons that stimulate beta receptors (see chemoreceptor)

bioavailability (bi-oh-ah-vale-ah-BILL-i-tee)

the amount of drug that is available to the target tissue after administration; this may not be 100% due to degradation or alteration before reaching the target tissue

C

Carotid artery

an artery leading to the brain. Blockage of a carotid artery causes stroke.

catalyze (KAT-ah- lies)

to greatly accelerate a chemical reaction; enzymes, for example, are protein catalysts that speed up biochemical reactions in the body; the enzyme is not consumed in the process

chemoreceptor (KEE-mow-ree-SEP-tor)

a molecular structure on the surface of a cell that is sensitive to chemical substances, such as epinephrine released by nerve cells

chemotaxis (kem-oh-TACK-sis)

movement or response of cells to chemicals

cholinergic parasympathomimetic agent (ko-lin-ER-jik pah-rah-sim-pah-tho- mee-MET-ik)

a chemical substance that causes the release of choline (acetylcholine) from parasympathetic nerve endings

chorionic

referring to the chorion or membrane enclosing the fetus

cytotoxic (sigh-toe-TOCK-sick)

destructive to cells

D

dorsal

pertaining to the back

E

edema (eh-DEE-mah)

excess fluid buid up in cells or tissues

embolism

obstruction of a vessel

elimination half-life

the time it takes for the body to eliminate or breakdown half of a dose of a pharmacologic agent

emetogenic (eh-MET-oh-gen-ik)

induces vomiting

endometrium (en-doh-MEE-tree-um)

the inner mucous membrane of the uterus

enzyme (EN-zime)

a protein catalyst that speeds chemical reactions in living organisms (see catalyze

epithelium (ep-i-THEE-lee-um)

the cellular layer without blood vessels covering free surfaces of the body such as the skin

esophagitis (E-sof-ah-ji-tis)

inflammation of the esophagus

etiology (ee-tee-OL-oh-gee)

the science of the causes and modes of operation of diseases

exfoliate (eks-FO-lee-ate)

to shed cells from the epithelium layer of the skin or mucosa

F

feedback inhibition

mechanism that maintains constant secretion of a product by exerting inhibitory control

fibroblastic (fi-bro-BLAS-tik)

pertaining to fibroblasts, or connective tissue cells

folic acid

a member of the viatmin B complex involved in the formation of red blood cells

G

ganglion (GANG-glee-on)

pl. ganglia; any group of nerve cell bodies located in the peripheral nervous system

gonadotropin

a hormone that promotes gonad (sex gland) growth and function

guar

a naturally occuring carbohydrate gum used as a thickening agent in foods and in weight-loss preparations

H

half-life

the time required for the decay of half a sample of a radioactive substance; may also apply to pharmacologic agents (see elimination half-life)

hemorrhagic

relating to bleeding

histopathologic

the correspondence between the microscopic structure of cells and tissues and their functions

hormone

a chemical substance, often a protein, that regulates the actions of its target organs

hypergonadotropic

increased production of gonad-stimulating hormone from the anterior pituitary gland

hyperkeratosis (hi-per-ker-ah-TOE-sis)

a disease resulting in the abnormal growth of the corneous (hornlike) layer of the skin

hyperpigmentation

abnormally increased pigmentation

hyperplasia (hi-per-PLAY-zee-ah)

an abnormal increase in the number of normal cells in a tissue

hypogonadism (high-po-GO-nad-izm)

below normal gonad (sex gland) function

hypothalamus

an area of the forebrain which regulates pituitary glandpituitary secretion among many other functions

hypoxemia (high-POCK-see-me--ah)

below normal oxygen content in arterial blood

I

idiopathic (id-ee-oh-PATH-ik)

describing a disease of unknown cause

immunodeficiency

a condition resulting from a defective immune system

infiltrate (in-FILL-trait)

material deposited as a result of filtration

in vitro (in VEE-troh)

from the Latin meaning in glass; in an artificial environment such as a test tube or the equivalent laboratory apparatus

M

mast cell

a type of granulated cell found in connective tissue

median time to elimination

the time it takes one half of a drug to be eliminated from the body

mediate (MEE-dee-ate)

accomplished indirectly

medulla oblongata (muh-DULL-ah ob-long-GAH-tah)

the part of the brainstem located just above the spinal cord; means "rather long and narrow;" acting as kind of a "telephone exchange," the medulla oblongata links the higher brain centers with several senses.

metaphase (MEH-tah-faze)

the second stage of mitosis in which the chromosomes are aligned along the center of the dividing cell

metastasis (meh-TASS-tah-sis)

the transfer of a disease from one part of an organ to another or to a different organ by the transfer of causative organisms or, as in the case of cancer, by the transfer of cells.

metastasize (me-TASS-tah-size)

to form a new focus of a disease (e.g., cancer) in another part of the body by the process of metastasis.

microtubule (my-kro-TOO-b'you'l)

one of a number of small tubular structures found inside nearly all cells

mitosis (mt-TOE-sis)

a type of cell division in which the resulting cells contain the same number of chromosomes as the original cell

mitotic spindle (my-TOT-ik)

a microtubular (see microtubule) structure that connects chromosomes during metaphase of mitosis

myenteric (my-AL-gee-ah)

muscular pain

myenteric

relating to the muscular coat of the intestine

myositis

inflammation of a muscle

myringotomy (mir-ing-GOT-oh-my)

draining fluid from within the eardrum by means of a needle

N

neuron (NUR-on)

nerve cell

neutropenia (new-tro-PEE-knee-ah)

a decrease in the number of white blood cells

nucleoside

a component molecule of RNA and DNA

O

Orphan Drug

a drug for which the target population is limited or for which the disease it treats occurs rarely

P

pancreatitis (pan-kree-ah-TIE-tis)

acute or chronic inflamation of the pancreas

parakeratosis (par-ah-ker-ah-TOE-sis)

persistence of the nuclei in the cells of the stratum corneum of the epidermis, as seen, for example, in psoriasis

pepsin

a gastric enzyme involved in digestion

peristalsis

wave-like movement of tubular structures such as the esophagus

peak plasma drug concentration

the highest level of drug that can be obtained in the blood usually following multiple doses

phosphorylation

the process of adding phosphate (a unique combination of phosphorous and oxygen atoms) molecular groups to a compound

pituitary, pituitary gland

a pea-sized structure, which secretes many important hormones, located behind the hypothalamushypothalamus

placebo

an inactive compound having no physiological effect; an inert substance identical in appearance to the treatment drug used in clinical studies

plaque

an accumulation of cholesterol and other material, which builds on the inner wall of an artery and obstructs blood flow.

polyarthritis

inflammation of several joints at the same time

polymer (POL-eh-mer)

a molecule formed by the joining of many smaller molecules; a protein, for example, is a polymer of amino acids

polymerase

an enzyme that forms long chain polymers from simple molecular components; DNA polymerase, for example, forms DNA strands from nucleosides

pneumonitis

inflammation of the lungs

preeclampsia (pree-ee-KLAMP-see-ah)

development of hypertension (high blood pressure), accompanied by edema, proteinuria, or both, due to pregnancy

prospective, randomized, double-blind trial

a clinical trial in which the method for analyzing data has been specified in the protocol before the study has begun (prospective), the patients have been randomly assigned to receive either the study drug or alternative treatment, and in which neither the patient nor the physician(s) conducting the study know which treatment is being given t he patient

proteinuria

presence of protein in the urine above normal limits

R

randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial

a clinical trial in which patients have been randomly assigned to receive either the study drug or alternative treatment, in which neither the patient nor the physician(s) conducting the study know which treatment is being given the patient, and in which the alternative to the study drug is a placebo; the study is conducted at several centers

resectable (ree-SEK-tah-bill)

capable of being removed by surgery

retrovirus

a type of virus whose genetic material consists of RNA rather than the usual DNA

rhabdomyolysis

an acute, potentially fatal disease of skeletal muscle

rhinitis

inflammation of the nasal mucosa (mucous membranes in the nasal cavities)

S

serotonin (ser-oh-TOE-nin)

an agent that acts to constrict blood vessels and also inhibits gastric secretion

splanchnic (SPLANK-nik)

pertaining to the internal organs

synovial (sigh-NO-vee-ahl)

relating to the lubricating fluid in joints

synovitis (sin-oh-VIE-tis)

inflammation of the joints; arthritis

T

tachyarrhythmia

a distrubance of the heart's rhythym resulting in a heart rate of over 100 beats per minute

testes (TES-tease)

plural for testis, one of the two male reproductive glands located in the cavity of the scrotumscrotum

testosterone

a steroid hormone produced by the testes; it promotes the development of male sex characteristics and regulates male reproductive function; the primary and most potent androgen secreted by the testes

thromboembolism

an embolism caused by a mass of aggregated blood factors (thrombus)

thrombogenic

causing thrombosis or coagulation of the blood

thrombosis (throm-BO-sis)

the formation of a mass of aggregated blood factors (thrombus); coagulation of the blood

transgenic (trans-GEN-ik)

pertaining to the insertion by biotechnical means of a foreign gene or genes into the genetic makeup of an organism

tumescence (too-MESS-ens)

a swelling

V

vagal (VAY-gal)

pertaining to the vagus nerve, which supplies sensory connections to the ear, tongue, and pharynx

vasculitis

inflammation of a blood vessel

vasoconstriction

a narrowing of the blood vessels

vestibular system (ves-TIB-you-lahr)

the organ of the inner ear containing several three semicircular ducts at right angles to one another; helps keep the body balanced

vinca alkaloid

a pharmacologically-active substance (e.g., vinblastine and vincristine) obtained from the genus Vinca, which includes the periwinkles