Pharmacology

Glossary of Terms

Absorption
The uptake of a drug from its site of administration into the bloodstream.

Active transport
The movement of a molecule against its concentration gradient across a membrane, with a
concomitant expenditure of energy.

Anabolic reaction
A reaction involving synthesis of new molecules, generally requiring energy.

Analgesics
Drugs that relieve pain.

Anticoagulants
Drugs that prevent or reduce blood clotting.

Area under the curve (AUC)

When the concentration of drug in the plasma is plotted over time on a graph, the AUC is
used as a measure of the total exposure of the body to a drug.

Astrocytes
Specialized glial cells in the brain that contribute to the integrity of the blood-brain barrier.

Bile
A fluid produced by the liver which aids digestion of fats in the small intestine and helps to
remove toxins from the body.

Bioavailability
The fraction of administered drug that reaches the systemic circulation.

Biologics
Therapeutics that are large in size (biological polymers), have complex structures, and are
derived from natural sources.

Blood-brain barrier
A protective membrane barrier between the blood and the brain that consists of endothelial
cells joined by tight junctions and surrounded by astrocytes.

Pharmacology
Glossary of Terms
Bronchodilator
A drug used in the treatment of asthma and other lung disorders. It acts by relaxing bronchial
muscle, resulting in expansion of the bronchial air passages and increased airflow to
the lungs.

C50
A concentration corresponding to half the maximal concentration of drug in the bloodstream.

Catabolic reaction
A reaction involving breakdown of molecules, generally releasing energy.

Cell-based therapy
A therapy that involves introducing live cells into a patient. These cells can be obtained from
the patient or another individual, and may be modified genetically or developmentally
before use.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

The clear liquid surrounding the brain and spinal cord.

Chemical name
A name for a drug that describes its molecular structure.

Clearance
The volume of plasma cleared of a drug in a unit of time.

Cmax
The maximum concentration of drug achieved in the bloodstream.

Concentration gradient
The difference in concentration of a drug across a cell membrane.

Conjugation reaction
A reaction in which a small polar, endogenous molecule is joined to another molecule.

Continuous infusion
Administration of a drug into a blood vessel over a prolonged period of time.

Cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYP enzymes)

A superfamily of related but distinct enzymes, found primarily in the liver, that are involved in
phase 1 reactions of drug metabolism.

Dalton (Da)
A standard unit of mass equivalent to 1 gram per mole.

Distribution
Movement of a drug from the bloodstream into body tissues, including the tissue(s)
containing the drug’s molecular target.

Drug modalities
Types of drugs, often grouped according to their molecular size and chemical structure.

Enteral routes of administration

Routes of administration that involve the GI tract.

Excretion
The removal of a drug from the body.

Pharmacology
Glossary of Terms
Exponential
An increase or decrease of a quantity at a steady rate that is proportional to its current value.

Extracellular fluid
The fluid outside the cells of the body. This fluid is commonly divided into plasma, lymph,
interstitial fluid, and transcellular fluid.

Facilitated diffusion
Movement of a drug across a cell membrane typically via a protein channel or pore, from an
area of high concentration to an area of low concentration.

Fat-soluble molecules
Molecules that dissolve well in fats.

Fick’s Law
A law describing movement of molecules across a membrane, which describes how the
rate of diffusion depends on the surface area, the diffusion distance, and the concentration
gradient across a cell membrane.

First-order kinetics
The elimination of a drug at a rate that is proportional to the plasma concentration of
the drug.

First-pass metabolism
Metabolism of a drug in the liver before it enters the systemic circulation.

Gastrointestinal tract (GI tract)

The digestive tract, divided into the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and
large intestine.

Gene-based therapy
A therapy that involves introducing genetic material, in the form of DNA or RNA, into cells of
a patient.

Generic name
The name given to a drug by an official body.

Glial cells
Cells that provide support and insulation for neurons in the central and peripheral
nervous system.

Glomerular filtration
The process of filtration of a drug or metabolite from the plasma in the glomerular capillaries
into the filtrate in the tubule of the nephron.

Half-life (t1/2)
The amount of time it takes for the concentration of a drug in the plasma to decrease by half.

Hydrolysis reaction
A chemical reaction where a molecule of water is incorporated into another molecule, which
is consequently split into two parts.

Hydrophilic molecules
Molecules that mix well in water (water-soluble).

Hydrophobic molecules
Molecules that mix well in fats (fat-soluble).

Pharmacology
Glossary of Terms
Hydroxyl group
In a molecule, a negatively charged group composed of a bonded oxygen and hydrogen
atom (OH).

Inhalation administration
Administration of a drug within the respiratory tract by inhaling via the nose and/or mouth.

Interstitial fluid
The fluid that surrounds the tissues in the body.

Intracellular fluid
The fluid within the cells of the body.

Intramuscular administration
Administration of a drug within a muscle.

Intrathecal administration
Administration of a drug within the cerebrospinal fluid.

Intravenous (IV) administration

Administration of a drug within or into a vein or veins.

Ionized
Having an electrical charge (charged). Ionized drugs are often more water-soluble.

Loading dose
A high drug dose given at the start of a course of treatment to rapidly increase the
concentration of the drug in the plasma to the desired steady-state level.

Lymphatic system
A component of the circulatory system made up of vessels that move infection-fighting white
blood cells around the body in a fluid referred to as lymph.

Mechanism of action
The biochemical and physiological interactions by which a drug exerts a therapeutic effect.

Metabolism
The chemical modification or breakdown of a drug in the body, also commonly referred to
as biotransformation.

Neurochemical
A small organic chemical that acts on the central nervous system.

Non-ionized
Having no electrical charge (uncharged). Non-ionized drugs are often more fat-soluble.

Nonpolar molecules
Molecules that have uniformly distributed electrons. Nonpolar molecules dissolve freely in
membrane lipids.

Ocular
Relating to the eye.

Onset of action
The length of time from administration of a drug to the initiation of its therapeutic effect.

Pharmacology
Glossary of Terms
Opioids
A class of legal and illegal drugs that are used clinically as powerful pain relievers, and which
act on the opioid receptors, mainly in the central nervous system.

Oral administration
Administration of a drug to or by way of the mouth.

Oxidation reaction
A chemical reaction in which a molecule loses electrons.

Parenteral routes of administration

The routes of administration that bypass the GI tract, such as injection and infusion.

Partition
The equilibrium distribution of a drug into the various compartments of the body, including
the vascular, interstitial, intracellular, transcellular, and fat compartments.

Passive diffusion
Movement of a drug or metabolite, typically across a cell membrane, from a region of high
concentration to one of low concentration.

Peritoneal cavity
The potential space within the sac that surrounds the abdominal organs.

Phase 1 reactions
Catabolic reactions of drug metabolism in the liver, such as oxidation, reduction, and
hydrolysis. These reactions are often mediated by cytochrome P450 enzymes.

Phase 2 reactions
Anabolic reactions of drug metabolism in the liver, such as conjugation.

Plasma
The liquid portion of the blood.

Polar molecules
Molecules that have unevenly distributed electrons, which do not dissolve freely in
membrane lipids.

Portal circulation
The circulation of blood from the abdominal organs (small intestine, colon, pancreas, and
spleen) to the liver.

Prodrug
A drug that is delivered in an inactive form and is activated by metabolism.

Psychomotor activity
An activity that involves conscious coordination of motor skills.

Psychostimulant
A drug that has stimulant properties and increases psychomotor activity.

Rate of elimination
The fraction of a drug that is eliminated per unit of time. Often refers to the elimination of a
drug from the bloodstream.

Pharmacology
Glossary of Terms
Reabsorption
The process of a drug or metabolite being transported from the tubule of the nephron into
the plasma in the peritubular capillaries.

Rectal administration
Administration of a drug to the rectum.

Reduction reaction
A chemical reaction in which a molecule gains electrons.

Route of administration
The method by which a drug is introduced into the body.

Semi-synthetic drug
A drug based on a natural product that is then chemically modified.

Small molecule drugs

Drugs that have a molecular mass of 900 Da or less, have simple structures, and are generally
chemically synthesized.

Steady state
Relating to drug dosing, this occurs when the rate of absorption of a drug into the plasma
equals the rate of clearance of the drug from the plasma.

Subcutaneous administration
Administration of a drug beneath the skin.

Sublingual administration
Administration of a drug beneath the tongue.

Subtherapeutic dosing
Occurs when the concentration of drug in the plasma is insufficient to produce a
therapeutic effect.

Sympathomimetic drug
A drug that mimics endogenous agents that act on the targets of the sympathetic nervous
system, which is responsible for regulating many physiological parameters, such as heart rate
and blood pressure.

Systemic circulation
A part of the cardiovascular system that includes the circulation of blood to and from
the heart.

Therapeutic effect
The desired response initiated by a drug or treatment.

Tight junctions
Cell-cell junctions found between adjacent epithelial cells.

tmax
The amount of time it takes to reach the maximum concentration of drug in the plasma
after administration.

Topical administration
Application of a drug to an epithelial surface in the body.

Pharmacology
Glossary of Terms
Total body clearance
The volume of plasma cleared of a drug in a unit of time by renal clearance, hepatic
clearance, and all other clearance mechanisms.

Toxic dosing
Administration of a drug resulting in excessive plasma concentrations that lead to
toxic effects.

Trade name
A legally registered trademark of a compounding or formulation of a drug by a
pharmaceutical company.

Transcellular fluid
The fluid formed from the secretions of epithelial cells, found within epithelial-lined spaces
(e.g. the synovial fluid in joints, the amniotic fluid in the womb).

Transdermal administration
Administration of a drug through the skin to the systemic circulation.

Transferases
A class of enzymes that catalyze conjugation reactions.

Tubular secretion
The process of active drug or metabolite secretion out of the plasma from the peritubular
capillaries into the tubule of the nephron.

Vaccine
A substance or biological preparation delivered to a patient to improve immunity to
a specific disease.

Volume of distribution (Vd)

The apparent volume of body fluid required to contain the total amount of an administered
drug at the steady-state drug concentration observed in the plasma.

Water-soluble molecules
Molecules that dissolve well in water.

Weak acid
A molecule that donates a hydrogen ion when it dissociates, but which does not dissociate
completely at physiological pH levels.

Weak base
A molecule that accepts a hydrogen ion when it dissociates, but which does not dissociate
completely at physiological pH levels.

Zero-order kinetics
The elimination of a drug at a rate that is independent of the plasma concentration of
the drug.

Copyright © The President and Fellows of Harvard College

Pharmacology
Glossary of Terms