12.5 Glossary

Module 12 Glossary

From Pharmacology for Nurses- Ch 9, 10, 11

homeostasis

maintenance of equilibrium and stability necessary for human life

nervous system

system that includes the brain and spinal cord (the central nervous system) and an intricate network of nerves (the peripheral nervous system)

neurons

the basic units of the nervous system

neurotransmission

the transmission of electrochemical information between neurons

neurotransmitter

a chemical messenger that results in action, inaction, or inhibition of a neuron

parasympathomimetic

drugs that stimulate or mimic the parasympathetic nervous system (rest and digest)

sympathomimetics

drugs that stimulate or mimic the sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight)

synapse

the space between two neurons

acetylcholine (ACh)

major neurotransmitter of the cholinergic system

adrenergic receptors

mediate responses to epinephrine and norepinephrine; include alpha and beta receptors

affinity

strength of the attraction between a drug and its receptor

Alzheimer’s disease (AD)

most common neurodegenerative condition of the brain; characterized by significant changes in brain tissue

apoptosis

programmed cell death prompted by a signal and designed to replace old cells with new ones

autoantibodies

produced by the immune system and are directed against one or more of the individual’s own cells, tissues, and proteins instead of foreign invaders

cholinergic receptors

mediate responses to acetylcholine; include muscarinic and nicotinic receptors

chronotropic

the increase or decrease of the heart rate

delusions

false, fixed beliefs not shared by others

diplopia

double vision—seeing two images of a single object

dysarthria

difficulty speaking because of muscle weakness

dysphagia

difficulty swallowing

hallucinations

perceiving something to be real in the absence of actual stimuli (visual, auditory, olfactory, gustatory, or tactile)

intrinsic activity

ability of a drug to activate a receptor upon binding

microtubules

components of a cell skeleton that provide structure and shape to cells, facilitate cell movement and cell division, and transport nutrients/substances within cells

myasthenia gravis (MG)

a progressive autoimmune neuromuscular disorder characterized by fluctuating muscle weakness and the onset of rapid fatigue

neurotoxic

drugs that alter the proper functioning of the nervous system

norepinephrine

neurotransmitter released by almost all of the postganglionic neurons of the SNS

parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS)

a division of the autonomic nervous system that carries the predominant tone in most organs with the exception of the blood vessels; responsible for the rest and digest functions

parasympatholytic

drugs that oppose the effects of the parasympathetic nervous system (also known as anticholinergic action)

parasympathomimetic

medications that activate the parasympathetic nervous system by mimicking the effects of acetylcholine

postganglionic neuron

neuron that goes from the ganglia to effector organs

preganglionic neuron

neuron that goes from the spinal cord to the ganglia and releases neurotransmitters

ptosis

drooping of the upper eyelid

remission

disappearance of the signs and symptoms of a disease

steady state

amount of drug eliminated equals the amount of drug within the circulation

Stevens-Johnson syndrome

hypersensitivity response to certain drugs characterized by lesions of the skin and mucous membranes, fever, malaise, and toxemia

sympathetic nervous system (SNS)

a division of the autonomic nervous system that is responsible for the fight-or-flight response

akathisia

psychomotor restlessness; an intense sensation of uneasiness or inner restlessness that usually involves the lower extremities and results in a compulsion to move

alpha-synuclein

neuronal protein that regulates synaptic vesicle coordination and subsequent neurotransmitter release

anhidrosis

lack of sweating due to decreased sweat glands

ataxia

impaired balance and coordination that can affect any part of the body and speech

atrophy

decrease in size or waste away, especially as a result of cellular degeneration

autoimmune

when the body’s immune system cannot tell the difference between its own cells and foreign cells, the immune components mistakenly attack healthy body cells

ballismus

rapid, involuntary jerking or flinging of proximal muscle groups

bradykinesia

slowness of movement or progressive hesitations

catecholamine

monoamine neurotransmitters released in response to physical or emotional stress (e.g., epinephrine, dopamine)

choreoathetosis

slow, involuntary, writhing movements

demyelination

damage to the myelin sheath that results in slowing or stopping of nerve impulses, leading to neurological problems

diplopia

double vision—seeing two of the same image

dysarthria

difficulty with formulating words to speak

dyskinesia

abnormality or impairment of voluntary movement

dysphagia

difficulty swallowing

dystonia

movement disorder where muscles contract involuntarily, causing repetitive or twisting movements

exacerbation

increase in the severity of a disease or its signs and symptoms

immunoglobulins

glycoprotein molecules produced by B lymphocytes (plasma cells) that act as a critical part of the immune response by specifically recognizing and binding to particular antigens and aiding in their destruction

Lhermitte sign

transient electric shock sensation down the spine and extremities caused by neck flexion; most notably caused by MS

lipoatrophy

localized loss of adipose tissue

lymphocyte

type of white blood cell that plays an essential role in the immune response (B and T lymphocytes); made in the bone marrow and found in the blood and lymph tissue

macrophages

large, specialized connective tissue cells that recognize, engulf, and destroy target cells

micrographia

handwriting that is very small

myelin sheath

protective insulated covering surrounding nerve fibers in the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves

neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS)

a potentially life-threatening condition characterized by symptoms of confusion or altered mental states, muscle rigidity, hyperthermia, arrhythmias, and autonomic instability

neuropathic pain

pain that originates within the CNS or PNS resulting from damage or disease

nystagmus

involuntary oscillating eye movements that are usually rapid, repetitive, and uncontrolled

oligodendrocytes

type of non-neuronal cells in the CNS that do not produce electrical impulses; main functions are to provide support and insulation to axons in the CNS

Parkinson’s disease (PD)

a progressive neurologic condition that destroys the pigmented dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra

plaques

deposits of neuron fragments surrounding a core of fibrillary amyloid beta-protein

progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML)

opportunistic, life-threatening viral infection of the brain caused by the John Cunningham virus

proliferating

multiplying or increasing in number

remissions

decrease in or disappearance of signs and symptoms

rigidity

continuous involuntary sustained muscle contraction that when passively stretched, the degree of resistance remains constant

tardive dyskinesia

movement disorder characterized by uncontrollable, abnormal, and repetitive movements of the face, torso, and/or other body parts