Module Three

Pharmacology,
Medical and Pharmacy Abbreviations

Table of Contents

1. Basic Pharmacology
A. Pharmacology
i. The Object of Drug Delivery (p 3)
ii. Drug Receptors (p 3)
iii. Concentration to Produce an Effect (p 3)
B. Elements of Drug Disposition
i. Absorption (p 4)
ii. Distribution (p 4)
iii. Metabolism (p 4)
iv. Excretion (p 4)
C. Factors Affecting Drug Delivery (p 4)
D. Adverse Drug Reactions (p 5)
E. Sample Questions (p 6)

2. Important Pharmacy Abbreviations

A. Routes (p 8)
B. Forms (p 8)
C. Times (p 9)
D. Measurements (p 9)
E. Other (p 10)
F. Sample Questions (p 11)

1
3. Medical Terminology
A. Root Words Identifying Body Parts (p 12)
B. Prefixes (p 13)
C. Suffixes (p 13)
D. Summary of Medical Terminology
i. Creating a Medical Terminology Word (p 14)
E. Some Common Medical Terminology (p 15)
F. Sample Questions (p 16)

4. Answer Key for Sample Questions (p 17)

2
1. Basic Pharmacology

A. Pharmacology

Pharmacology is the study of drugs and their interactions with the

human body.

i. The Object of Drug Delivery

The object of drug delivery is to produce the desired effect by:

! Delivering the right drug,

! With the right concentration,
! To the right site of action,
! At the right time,
! To the right patient.

ii. Drug Receptors

Drug molecules interact with cell materials called receptors. The receptors
are located on the surfaces of cell membranes and inside of the cells. When
the drug molecule binds with a receptor, it can cause a reaction that
stimulates or inhibits normal cell functions. This is when a drug is producing
a desired or undesired effect.

The pharmacological effects of these interactions are called agonists and

antagonists.

Agonist drugs accelerate or slow normal cell functions. Antagonist drugs

block receptor action by preventing other drugs from activating them.

iii. Concentration to Produce an Effect

! A drug must achieve a minimum effective concentration.

! There must be enough drug at the site of action to produce a response.
! The range of drug concentrations is called a therapeutic window.
! When the drug is within the therapeutic window, most patients
experience the desired effect of the drug therapy with minimum risks.

3
B. Elements of Drug Disposition

i. Absorption - This is the process in which a drug is taken up from

the site of administration and is transported to the blood stream.
This occurs orally, rectally, intravenously, topically, or by inhalation.

ii. Distribution This is the process where a drug is delivered to

specific organs and tissues via the blood stream to exert its
pharmacological effect.

iii. Metabolism This is when the drug disappears and changes

chemically into another compound. This takes place primarily in
the liver.

iv. Excretion This process is the elimination of the drug from the
body. This takes place primarily in the kidneys.

C. Factors Affecting Drug Delivery

! Gender
! Age
! Body weight
! Pregnancy
! Psychological factors
! Genetics

4
D. Adverse Drug Reactions

REACTION DESCRIPTION

Allergy Allergic to the drug.

Drug Dependence Chronic use of narcotics resulting in psychological
dependence.
Gastrointestinal Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation.
Hematological Anticoagulation can cause excessive bleeding.
Teratogenicity Certain groups of drugs can cause abnormal fetal
development.
Nephrotoxicity Aminoglycosides and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs could cause kidney failure.

Idiosyncrasy When taking a drug for the first time a reaction could
have a genetic characteristic that alters patients
metabolizing enzymes.
Hepatotoxicity Hepatitis, hepatic necrosis, and biliary tract
inflammation or obstruction can be caused by some
drugs.
Central Nervous Confusion, hallucinations, drowsiness, circulation,
System dizziness, or coma.

5
E. Sample Questions

1. Metabolism is when a drug disappears and changes into another

compound. Where does this take place?
a. Kidney
b. Lungs
c. Liver
d. Stomach

2. Excretion is the elimination of the drug from the body. Where does this
take place?
a. Kidney
b. Lungs
c. Liver
d. Stomach

3. What is located on the surfaces of cell membranes and inside of the cells?
a. Agonist
b. Antagonist
c. Receptors
d. Molecules

4. What is the object of drug delivery?

a. Right concentration
b. Right site of action
c. Right time
d. All of the above

5. What type of drugs accelerate or slow normal cell functions?

a. Agonist
b. Antagonist
c. Receptors
d. Molecules

6. What is the range of concentration for a drug to produce an effect?

a. Minimum
b. Maximum
c. Response
d. Therapeutic window

6
7. Which one of the following does not affect drug delivery?
a. Weight
b. Age
c. Height
d. Gender

8. What is the study of drugs and their interactions with the human body?
a. Pharmacology
b. Therapeutics
c. PharmD
d. None of the above

9. What is the term for the chronic usage of narcotics that can result in
psychological dependency?
a. Teratogenicity
b. Drug Dependence
c. Idiosyncrasy
d. Allergies

10. What are some adverse drug reactions that effect the Central Nervous
System?
a. Confusion
b. Dizziness
c. Drowsiness
d. All of the above

7
2. Important Pharmacy Abbreviations

This section is extremely important to memorize! This information is needed

for transcribing prescriptions and performing pharmacy calculations.

Suggestion for Memorizing: Make flash cards yourself! Writing the abbreviations and
what they stand for will help you to more quickly memorize the following information.

A. Routes

ad right ear hint: (a) think of audio for the ear

as left ear
au both ears
od right eye hint: (o) think of ocular for the eye
os left eye
ou both eyes
IM intramuscular
IV intravenous
IVP intravenous push
IVPB intravenous piggyback
SC subcutanteously
per neb by nebulizer
po by mouth
pr rectally
pv vaginally
SL sublingually
top topically

B. Forms

aq water
cm cream
elix elixir
liq liquid
syr syrup
cap capsule
tab tablet
supp suppository
SR, XL slow/extended release
ung ointment

8
C. Times

ac before meals
pc after meals
q every
qd every day
qd every hour
qod every other day
bid two times a day
tid three times a day
qid four times a day
hs at bedtime
h hour
prn as needed
stat immediately

D. Measurements

aa of each
ad up to
aq. ad add water up to
dil dilute
fl fluid
gm gram
gr grain
mg milligram
mcg microgram
meq milliequivalent
l liter
ml milliliter
qs a sufficient quantity
ss one-half
tsp. teaspoon
tbsp tablespoon
gtt drop

9
E. Other

c with
s without
disp dispense
NR no refills
ud as directed
amp ampule
BSA body surface area
comp compound
D5W dextrose 5% in water
NS normal Saline
emuls emulsion
Sig write, label
sol solution
lot lotion
tinc tincture
troche lozenge
tuss cough

10
F. Sample Questions

Match each abbreviation in column 1 with its correct meaning in column 2.

1. ad _____ a. before meals

2. os _____ b. three times a day
3. prn_____ c. directions
4. stat_____ d. right ear
5. hs______ e. every
6. po _____ f. by mouth
7. bid _____ g. both eyes
8. tid _____ h. immediately
9. q_______ i. four times a day
10. sig_____ j. left ear
11. qid_____ k. two times a day
12. ou _____ l. left eye
13. as _____ m. bedtime
14. ung____ n. gram
15. gtt _____ o. ointment
16. ac _____ p. milligram
17. mg_____ q. drop
18. gm_____ r. as needed
19. pc______ s. every day
20. qd______ t. after meals

11
3. Medical Terminology

Medical Terminology is a system made up of root words, prefixes,

suffixes and combining vowels used for the language of medicine in
all areas of the health care industry. Most terms are related to the
diagnosis of the patient.

A. Root W ords Identifying Bod y Parts

Memorize Root Words and Corresponding Body Parts

Suggestion for Memorizing: Make flash cards yourself! Writing the abbreviations and
what they stand for will help you to more quickly memorize the following information.

Root Word Body Part

card heart
cyst bladder
dermal skin
gastr stomach
hemat blood
hepat liver
mast breast
metri uterus
my muscle
nephr kidney
neur nerve
ocul eye
oste bone
ot ear
pector chest
pneum lung
ven vein

12
B. Prefixes are added in front of a root word to clarify its meaning.

Prefix Meaning

hyper high
hypo low
sub under
trans through
dys difficult
end within
para around
poly much
bi two
intra within
macro large
micro small
pre before
post after
tri three

C. Suffixes are added at the end of a root word to clarify its meaning.

Suffix Meaning

ic, ac, ous, tic pertaining to

algia pain
emia blood condition
ia condition of
itis inflammation
logy study
sis abnormal
pathy disease
oma tumor
rrhea discharge
tomy incision
toxic poison
phagia swallowing

13
D. Summary of Medical Terminology

Medical Terminology is a system made up of root words, prefixes,

suffixes and combining vowels. Combining vowels are used to
connect the prefix, root word, and suffix. The most common
combining vowel is o, followed by i, and then e.

i. Creating a Medical Terminology Word

Endometriosis

Prefix end (within)

Combining vowel o
Root word metri (uterus)
Combining vowel o
Suffix sis (abnormal)

Meaning abnormal growth of uterus tissue

Pneumonia

Root word pneum (lung)

Combining vowel o
Suffix nia (condition of)

Meaning inflammation of the lungs

14
E. Some Common Medical Terminology

Suggestion for Memorizing: Make flash cards yourself! Writing the words and their
definitions yourself will help you to more quickly memorize the following definitions.

Term Definition

1. Hypertension high blood pressure

2. Hyperlipidemia increased lipids in the blood
3. Hypothyroidism deficiency of the thyroid
4. Hepatitis inflammation of the liver
5. Gastroenteritis inflammation of the stomach, intestinal tract
6. Tendonitis inflammation of a tendon
7. Neuralgia severe pain in a nerve
8. Arthritis inflammation of a joint
9. Endometriosis abnormal growth of uterus tissue
10. Prostatitis inflammation of the prostate
11. Bronchitis inflammation of bronchial membranes
12. Pneumonia inflammation of the lungs
13. Pulmonary pertains to the lungs
14. Cystitis inflammation of the bladder
15. Conjunctivitis inflammation the eye
16. Tympanitis inflammation of the middle ear
17. Cardiomyopathy disease of the heart muscle

15
F. Sample Questions

1. The root word pector stand for which body part?

a. Bone
b. Stomach
c. Chest
d. Liver

2. What does the prefix hyper mean?

a. Low
b. High
c. Large
d. Small

3. What is medical terminology made up of?

a. Root words
b. Prefixes
c. Suffixes
d. All of the above

4. What is the most common combining vowel used in medical terminology?

a. a
b. e
c. i
d. o

5. Match the term in column 1 with its correct definition in column 2.

1. Hypertension______ a. inflammation of the eye

2. Hepatitis _________ b. pertains to the lungs
3. Gastroenteritis_____ c. high blood pressure
4. Neuralgia_________ d. deficiency of the thyroid
5. Arthritis__________ e. severe pain in a nerve
6. Bronchitis_________ f. inflammation of the liver
7. Pneumonia________ g. inflammation of the stomach
8. Pulmonary________ h. inflammation of the lungs
9. Conjunctivitis______ i. inflammation of a joint
10. Hypothyroidism____ j. inflammation of bronchial
membranes

16
4. Answer Key

1. E. 2. F. 3. F.

1. c 1. d 1. c
2. a 2. l 2. b
3. c 3. r 3. d
4. d 4. h 4. d
5. a 5. m 5. = 1. c
6. d 6. f 2. f
7. c 7. k 3. g
8. a 8. b 4. e
9. b 9. e 5. i
10.d 10. c 6. j
11. i 7. h
12. g 8. b
13. j 9. a
14. o 10.d
15. q
16. a
17. p
18. n
19. t
20. s

17