Pharmacology NURS 180 Week 1 Quiz 2026 – WCU
1. Which term describes what the body does to a drug?
A. Pharmacodynamics
B. Pharmacokinetics
C. Pharmacotherapeutics
D. Pharmacognosy
Answer: B
Rationale: Pharmacokinetics is the study of drug movement through the body, including
absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion.
2. Which term refers to the study of the biochemical and physiological effects of
drugs on the body?
A. Pharmacogenetics
B. Pharmacokinetics
C. Pharmacodynamics
D. Pharmacology
Answer: C
Rationale: Pharmacodynamics involves the mechanism of drug action and the relationship
between drug concentration and effect.
3. What is the primary site of drug metabolism in the human body?
A. Liver
B. Small Intestine
C. Kidneys
D. Lungs
Answer: A
,Rationale: The liver is the primary organ responsible for the metabolism of drugs via
hepatic enzymes.
4. Which route of administration provides 100% bioavailability?
A. Intravenous
B. Subcutaneous
C. Intramuscular
D. Oral
Answer: A
Rationale: Intravenous (IV) administration bypasses absorption barriers and the first-pass
effect, entering the circulation directly.
5. The ‘First-Pass Effect’ primarily occurs with which route of administration?
A. Sublingual
B. Oral
C. Transdermal
D. Intravenous
Answer: B
Rationale: Oral drugs are absorbed in the GI tract and carried to the liver via the portal
vein, where they may be metabolized before reaching systemic circulation.
6. What is the term for the time required for the serum concentration of a drug
to decrease by 50%?
A. Duration of action
B. Steady state
C. Peak level
D. Half-life
Answer: D
Rationale: Half-life is the time it takes for one-half of the drug to be eliminated from the
body.
, 7. A drug that binds to a receptor and produces a response is called an:
A. Antagonist
B. Inhibitor
C. Agonist
D. Partial Antagonist
Answer: C
Rationale: An agonist is a drug that binds to a receptor and triggers a physiological
response.
8. Which pregnancy category indicates that studies in animals or humans have
demonstrated fetal abnormalities?
A. Category A
B. Category B
C. Category C
D. Category X
Answer: D
Rationale: Category X indicates that the risk of use in pregnant women clearly outweighs
any possible benefit due to documented fetal abnormalities.
9. Which schedule of controlled substances has the highest potential for abuse
and no currently accepted medical use?
A. Schedule II
B. Schedule I
C. Schedule III
D. Schedule IV
Answer: B
Rationale: Schedule I drugs (e.g., heroin, LSD) have a high abuse potential and no accepted
medical use in the US.
1. Which term describes what the body does to a drug?
A. Pharmacodynamics
B. Pharmacokinetics
C. Pharmacotherapeutics
D. Pharmacognosy
Answer: B
Rationale: Pharmacokinetics is the study of drug movement through the body, including
absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion.
2. Which term refers to the study of the biochemical and physiological effects of
drugs on the body?
A. Pharmacogenetics
B. Pharmacokinetics
C. Pharmacodynamics
D. Pharmacology
Answer: C
Rationale: Pharmacodynamics involves the mechanism of drug action and the relationship
between drug concentration and effect.
3. What is the primary site of drug metabolism in the human body?
A. Liver
B. Small Intestine
C. Kidneys
D. Lungs
Answer: A
,Rationale: The liver is the primary organ responsible for the metabolism of drugs via
hepatic enzymes.
4. Which route of administration provides 100% bioavailability?
A. Intravenous
B. Subcutaneous
C. Intramuscular
D. Oral
Answer: A
Rationale: Intravenous (IV) administration bypasses absorption barriers and the first-pass
effect, entering the circulation directly.
5. The ‘First-Pass Effect’ primarily occurs with which route of administration?
A. Sublingual
B. Oral
C. Transdermal
D. Intravenous
Answer: B
Rationale: Oral drugs are absorbed in the GI tract and carried to the liver via the portal
vein, where they may be metabolized before reaching systemic circulation.
6. What is the term for the time required for the serum concentration of a drug
to decrease by 50%?
A. Duration of action
B. Steady state
C. Peak level
D. Half-life
Answer: D
Rationale: Half-life is the time it takes for one-half of the drug to be eliminated from the
body.
, 7. A drug that binds to a receptor and produces a response is called an:
A. Antagonist
B. Inhibitor
C. Agonist
D. Partial Antagonist
Answer: C
Rationale: An agonist is a drug that binds to a receptor and triggers a physiological
response.
8. Which pregnancy category indicates that studies in animals or humans have
demonstrated fetal abnormalities?
A. Category A
B. Category B
C. Category C
D. Category X
Answer: D
Rationale: Category X indicates that the risk of use in pregnant women clearly outweighs
any possible benefit due to documented fetal abnormalities.
9. Which schedule of controlled substances has the highest potential for abuse
and no currently accepted medical use?
A. Schedule II
B. Schedule I
C. Schedule III
D. Schedule IV
Answer: B
Rationale: Schedule I drugs (e.g., heroin, LSD) have a high abuse potential and no accepted
medical use in the US.
