| Acetylcholine | | solution containing the same concentration of salt as that found in the body. |
| Acetylcholinesterase | | the route comprising oral, sublingual, nasogastric, or rectal routes of drug absorption. |
| Additive | | molecules or substance that is attracted to water. |
| Adrenergic agents | | It plays a crucial role in reducing alveolar surface tension and preventing alveolar collapse |
| adrenergic receptors | | agents that induce vomiting. |
| aerosol | | equally divided portions |
| aerosol therapy | | nerves that carry impulse away from the brain and spinal cord. Also known as motor nerves. |
| afferent nerves | | labored or difficult breathing. |
| afterload | | drug that binds to its receptor without activating it. |
| agonist | | also known as cholinesterase; the enzyme that deactivates acetylcholine. |
| aliquot | | excessive discharge of respiratory tract secretions. |
| alpha receptors | | narrowing of the bronchioles due to contraction of the smooth muscle surrounding the airways. |
| antagonist | | aerosol particles falling out or "raining out" of suspension. |
| antiadrenergics | | the phenomenon of increasing incidence of and mortality from asthma in recent years despite a better understanding of the pathophysiology and improved drugs for treatment of asthma. |
| anticholinergic | | the long-term process of decreasing the sensitivity of to because of a reduction in the number of receptors |
| antigen | | the chemical neurotransmitter of skeletal muscles, the preganglionic sites of both the parasympathetic and the sympathetic nervous system, and the postganglionic sites of the parasympathetic nervous system. |
| asthma paradox | | describing two drugs whose sum effect when given together is equal to the effect from each given separately but at the same time. |
| autonomic nervous system | | foreign material that stimulates the immune and inflammatory response |
| beta-agonist | | adrenergic receptors found in renal tissue that, when stimulated, relax the renal arteries and therefore increase renal perfusion. |
| beta receptors | | agents that stimulate the sympathetic nervous system. |
| beta 1 receptors | | the nervous system that controls the involuntary responses; divided into the parasympathetic and sympathetic branches. |
| beta 2 receptors | | narrowing of the bronchioles due to swelling, mucus obstruction, or spasm of the smooth muscle of the airway. |
| bioavailability | | the impacting of aerosol particles on airway walls because of inertial energy. |
| bland aerosol therapy | | also called adrenaline, hormone that acts as the circulating neurotransmitter for the sympathetic nervous system |
| bronchial gland | | solution containing a greater concentration of salt than is normally found in the body. |
| bronchoconstriction | | older propellant for MDIs; damage the ozone layer and are reactive in some patients, so they are currently banned. |
| bronchorrhea | | the nervous system comprised of the brain and spinal cord. |
| Bronchospasm | | delivery of aerosol particles into the respiratory system for therapeutic purposes. |
| central nervous system | | receptors found in the sympathetic nervous system that are divided into and subcategories. |
| chemical mediators | | complex mixture of phospholipids and proteins produced in the lung by the type II pneumocytes. |
| chlorofluorocarbons | | a drug that combines with a and stimulates the activity of that receptor. |
| cholinergic | | vasodilator that mediates inflammation and allergic reactions. |
| corticosteroid | | suspension of liquid or solid particles in a gas. |
| dependence | | substance that improves expectoration of respiratory secretions by increasing the output from the bronchial glands. |
| deposition | | non-medicated aerosol therapy. |
| desensitization | | loss of tissue responsiveness that can occur with drug exposure. |
| dopamine receptors | | receptors of the sympathetic nervous system that include alpha- and beta-receptors. |
| downregulation | | referring to the parasympathetic nervous system, where acetylcholine is the neurotransmitter substance at all ganglionic sites. |
| dyspnea | | fraction of drug dose that reaches the systemic circulation. |
| efferent nerves | | replacing chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) as metered-dose inhalant (MDI) propellants, because they do not damage the ozone layer and are not as reactive in patients. |
| emetics | | elimination of drug that happens afteradministration but before it reaches the systemic circulation. |
| endogeneous surfactant | | one of two main groups of corticosteroids needed for stress response and utilization of carbohydrates, fat, and protein by the body. |
| endogeneous surfactant | | force against which the heart must pump, including tension that develops in the ventricular wall during systole. |
| enteral route | | any steroid hormone produced by the adrenal cortex. |
| epinephrine | | agents that block the effects of the parasympathetic nervous system. |
| exogenous surfactant | | initiators of the inflammatory process that are released in response to a stimulus. |
| expectorant | | found primarily in the heart when stimulated, they cause an increase in rate and force of contraction. |
| first-pass effect | | produced outside of the patient's own body. They may be obtained from humans or animals or synthesized in the laboratory. |
| forced expiratory volume | | receptors found in the sympathetic nervous system that generally cause vasoconstriction. |
| formulary | | drug use that may result in withdrawal symptoms upon discontinuation; symptoms can be psychologic or physiologic |
| ganglion | | solution containing a greater concentration of salt than is normally found in the body. |
| glucocorticoid | | agents that block the effects of the sympathetic nervous system. |
| half-life | | drug that activates its receptor upon binding. |
| histamine | | mucus-producing exocrine glands found in the submucosa. They are stimulated by parasympathetic nerves and secrete a relatively watery fluid. |
| hydrofluoroalkanes | | are found primarily in the lungs; when stimulated, they cause bronchodilation. |
| hydrophilic | | nerves that carry impulses to the brain and spinal cord. Also known as sensory nerves. |
| hypertonic | | nerve cell body outside of the brain and spinal cord. |
| hypotonic | | volume in 1 second pulmonary function test that measures the volume of air forcefully exhaled in one second. |
| inertial impaction | | time it takes for the drug concentration to fall to 50% in the body. |
| isotonic | | list of drugs stocked by the pharmacy |
