TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Glossary A1 - Ciccone, Charles D. PY - 2016 T2 - Pharmacology in Rehabilitation AB - Common terms related to pharmacology and a brief definition of each term are listed here. Synonyms (SYN), antonyms (ANT), and common abbreviations are also included, whenever applicable.Acetylcholine:A neurotransmitter in the somatic and autonomic nervous systems; principal synapses using acetylcholine include the skeletal neuromuscular junction, autonomic ganglia, and certain pathways in the brain.Adenylate cyclase:An enzyme located on the inner surface of many cell membranes; it is important in mediating biochemical changes in the cell in response to drug and hormone stimulation (SYN: adenyl cyclase).Adrenergic:Refers to synapses or physiological responses involving epinephrine and norepinephrine.Adrenocorticosteroids:The group of steroid hormones produced by the adrenal cortex. These drugs include the glucocorticoids (cortisol, cortisone), mineralocorticoids (aldosterone), and sex hormones (androgens, estrogens, progestins).Affinity:The mutual attraction between a drug and a specific cellular receptor.Agonist:A drug that binds to a receptor and causes some change in cell function (ANT: antagonist).Akathisia:A feeling of extreme motor restlessness and an inability to sit still; may occur because of antipsychotic drug therapy.Aldosterone:A steroid (mineralocorticoid) hormone produced by the adrenal cortex that acts on the kidney to increase sodium reabsorption, thereby retaining sodium in the body.Allergy:A state of hypersensitivity to foreign substances (e.g., environmental antigens and certain drugs), manifested by an exaggerated response of the immune system.Allosteric modulators:Substances that bind to a cell receptor and alter the receptor's affinity for specific drugs; common allosteric modulators include guanine nucleotides, ammonium ions, calcium, and other divalent cations.Alpha receptors:A primary class of receptors that are responsive to epinephrine and norepinephrine. Alpha receptors are subclassified into alpha-1 and alpha-2 receptors based on their sensitivity to various drugs.Amylin:A hormone released with insulin from pancreatic beta cells that helps suppress a rise in blood glucose by inhibiting glucagon release, delaying gastric emptying, and reducing food intake by increasing feelings of fullness.Anabolic steroids:Natural and synthetic male hormones that may be misused in an attempt to increase muscle size and improve athletic performance (SYN: androgens).Analgesia:To lessen or relieve pain. Drugs with this ability are known as analgesics.Androgen:A male steroid such as testosterone.Angina pectoris:Severe pain and constriction in the chest region, usually associated with myocardial ischemia.Angiogenesis:The development of new blood vessels. Drugs that inhibit this effect can be useful in limiting the growth and proliferation of certain tumors.Antagonist:A drug that binds to a receptor but does not cause a change in cell activity (SYN: blocker).Anthelmintics:Drugs that destroy parasitic worms (e.g., tapeworms, roundworms) in the GI tract and elsewhere in the body.Anticholinergics:Drugs that decrease activity at acetylcholine synapses. These agents are often used to diminish activity in the parasympathetic nervous system (SYN: parasympatholytic).Anticoagulation:A decrease in the blood's capacity to coagulate (clot). Drugs with the ability to decrease coagulation are known as anticoagulants.Antimetabolite:The general term for drugs that impair function in harmful cells and microorganisms by antagonizing or replacing normal metabolic substrates in those cells. Certain anti-infectious and antineoplastic agents function as antimetabolites.Antineoplastic:A drug that prevents or attenuates the growth and proliferation of cancerous cells.Antipyresis:The reduction of fever. Drugs with the ability to reduce fevers are known as antipyretics.Antitussive:A drug that reduces coughing.Aromatase:An enzyme responsible for estrogen ... SN - PB - F. A. Davis Company CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2024/03/28 UR - fadavisat.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1135038137 ER -