Chapter 9: Surgical
Technology for the Surgical
Technologist Exam Prep A+
Grade 2026/2027
,pharmacology the study of medications and their actions including drug origins, properties, and
uses
drug defined as a substance used for the diagnosis, treatment, cure, mitigation (reduction
of severity), or prevention (prophylaxis) of disease or condition
U.S. Federal Drug Administration (FDA) Most of the drugs available on the market today have been standardized and
approved for safety, dosage, accuracy, and effectiveness by the
_________________________________________ after undergoing several
phases of formal, independent testing.
drug sources plants, animals, minerals, laboratory synthesis, biotechnology
synthetic drugs manufactured totally from laboratory chemicals
semi-synthetic drugs natural substances that are chemically altered
pharmacokinetics used to describe the metabolic processing of a drug within the body; processes
involve absorption, distribution, biotransformation, and excretion
absorption occurs at the site of administration, where the substance is eventually taken into the
bloodstream by the capillaries (passive transport)
passive transport the drug is transferred from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower
concentration until the concentration on both sides of the cell membrane is equal;
requires no energy; most drugs are transported in this manner
active transport required for a limited number of drugs; an energy source in the form of a cation,
such as sodium, is required to carry the substance from an area of lower
concentration to one of higher concentration
type of drug preparation, dosage, route of administration, Absorption is influenced by several factors that include __________________,
patient condition ______________________, _________________________, and
_________________________.
epinephrine The vasoconstrictor _____________________ can be added to a drug preparation
to slow absorption.
distribution involves the transport of a medication within the body once it enters the circulatory
system
rate of absorption, systemic circulation, regional blood flow The distribution of medication is affected by the ________________________,
_______________________, and __________________________ to the target
organ or tissue.
plasma protein binding, tissue binding, barriers The distribution of a medication is also affected or limited by
________________________, _________________________, and certain
_____________________ established by the body.
,biotransformation metabolism of a drug; most often occurs in the liver, but other tissues, including the
intestinal mucosa, lungs, kidneys, and blood plasma, may be involved
to break down the drug molecules in preparation for What is the main function of the liver in drug metabolism?
excretion
metabolites the products of metabolic breakdown; smaller, inactive substances
excretion medications are physiologically removed from the target organ or tissue via the
circulatory system in either intact or biotransformed state
kidneys The __________________ are primarily responsible for the filtration of medications
and metabolites as part of urine formation and excretion; some medications and
metabolites may be eliminated fecally, via sweat or saliva, or exhaled; some are
also eliminated in breast milk
pharmacodynamics involves the study of the interaction of drug molecules with the target cells of living
tissue
types of drug interactions inhibition or destruction of foreign organisms or malignant cells, protection of cells
from foreign agents, supplementation or replacement of specific hormones,
vitamins, or enzymes, and increasing or decreasing the speed of a physiologic
functions
type of drug, dosage, route of administration, patient Certain variables, such as _____________________, ________________,
condition _____________________, and __________________________, affect various
aspects of pharmacodynamics.
drug interaction can occur when two substances are prescribed concurrently, causing a modification
of the action of one or both drugs; may be intentional (beneficial) or unintended
(detrimental)
agonist interaction occurs when a drug potentiates or enhances the effect of another substance;
synergists and additives
agonistic medication The ________________________ binds to a specific receptor site in the body,
producing an alteration in biological function.
synergistic agents act in combination to produce a stronger or more powerful effect than would be
demonstrated if each agent was administered individually; the action of one agent
increases the action of the other agent when delivered together; each agent can be
given in a lower, sometimes safer dose while obtaining the same desired effect
additive agents alter some aspect of the action of the original agent; an example is the addition of
epinephrine to the local anesthetic lidocaine to prolong the anesthetic action by
causing vasoconstriction, which keeps the medication in place longer
antagonist An ______________________ binds to the agonist's receptor site, preventing the
agonist from binding there and causing its desired effect; this results in an absence
of the agonist's action, referred to as agonist reversal
, The timing of medication administration depends on: onset: the period of time required for the effects of the medication to begin
peak effect: the period of time of the maximum effect(s) of the medication
duration: the overall period of time when the effects of a medication are
demonstrated
indication a listing of the medical conditions that the medication is known to treat; the dosage
for each indication, as well as the delivery form, may vary according to the patient's
medical condition, weight, and age
contraindications a list of circumstances or medical conditions for which the medication should not be
used, depending on the medication and how it is metabolized in the body
actions the effects of the substance at the target site
theory of drug-receptor interaction states that the active substance in the drug has an affinity (attraction) for a specific
chemical constituent (component) of a cell; the interaction occurs on a molecular
level with a specific receptor on the cell surface or within the cell to produce the
pharmacological response
theory of drug-enzyme interaction states that a drug may combine with a specific enzyme to inhibit the action of the
enzyme or alter the cellular response to the enzyme
nonspecific drug interaction is related to a drug that does not act by either of the other two theories of interaction
and is considered nonspecific in its interaction
dosage the amount of medication delivered to the patient in order to achieve the optimal
therapeutic effect; depends on several factors, including the patient's age, weight,
and overall medical condition; commonly expressed in a ratio of medication
concentration per kilograms of patient body weight (mg/kg)
principal action, organ or body system, physiological Drugs are classified to their ___________________ (e.g., barbiturate), the
action, therapeutic action ________________________ affected (e.g., neurologic agent), the
_______________________ produced by the drug (e.g., central nervous system
depressant), or its ________________________ (e.g., anticonvulsant).
illness, disease The goal of medication administration is the treatment of _________________ or
_____________________.
therapeutic effect the concentration or dose of a medication used to produce the desired result
without producing harmful effects
side effects an expected, undesirable, but tolerable effect of medication; these can include
symptoms such a dry mouth, constipation, diarrhea, dizziness, or drowsiness
adverse effect an undesirable and potentially harmful effect of a medication that can lead to organ
damage or failure; a common reaction is hypersensitivity or allergic reaction, which
can range from mild skin irritation to anaphylaxis
toxic effect an undesirable and unacceptable effect of a medication; can include the promotion
of growth of cancerous tumors (carcinogens) or the development of birth defects
(teratogens)
Technology for the Surgical
Technologist Exam Prep A+
Grade 2026/2027
,pharmacology the study of medications and their actions including drug origins, properties, and
uses
drug defined as a substance used for the diagnosis, treatment, cure, mitigation (reduction
of severity), or prevention (prophylaxis) of disease or condition
U.S. Federal Drug Administration (FDA) Most of the drugs available on the market today have been standardized and
approved for safety, dosage, accuracy, and effectiveness by the
_________________________________________ after undergoing several
phases of formal, independent testing.
drug sources plants, animals, minerals, laboratory synthesis, biotechnology
synthetic drugs manufactured totally from laboratory chemicals
semi-synthetic drugs natural substances that are chemically altered
pharmacokinetics used to describe the metabolic processing of a drug within the body; processes
involve absorption, distribution, biotransformation, and excretion
absorption occurs at the site of administration, where the substance is eventually taken into the
bloodstream by the capillaries (passive transport)
passive transport the drug is transferred from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower
concentration until the concentration on both sides of the cell membrane is equal;
requires no energy; most drugs are transported in this manner
active transport required for a limited number of drugs; an energy source in the form of a cation,
such as sodium, is required to carry the substance from an area of lower
concentration to one of higher concentration
type of drug preparation, dosage, route of administration, Absorption is influenced by several factors that include __________________,
patient condition ______________________, _________________________, and
_________________________.
epinephrine The vasoconstrictor _____________________ can be added to a drug preparation
to slow absorption.
distribution involves the transport of a medication within the body once it enters the circulatory
system
rate of absorption, systemic circulation, regional blood flow The distribution of medication is affected by the ________________________,
_______________________, and __________________________ to the target
organ or tissue.
plasma protein binding, tissue binding, barriers The distribution of a medication is also affected or limited by
________________________, _________________________, and certain
_____________________ established by the body.
,biotransformation metabolism of a drug; most often occurs in the liver, but other tissues, including the
intestinal mucosa, lungs, kidneys, and blood plasma, may be involved
to break down the drug molecules in preparation for What is the main function of the liver in drug metabolism?
excretion
metabolites the products of metabolic breakdown; smaller, inactive substances
excretion medications are physiologically removed from the target organ or tissue via the
circulatory system in either intact or biotransformed state
kidneys The __________________ are primarily responsible for the filtration of medications
and metabolites as part of urine formation and excretion; some medications and
metabolites may be eliminated fecally, via sweat or saliva, or exhaled; some are
also eliminated in breast milk
pharmacodynamics involves the study of the interaction of drug molecules with the target cells of living
tissue
types of drug interactions inhibition or destruction of foreign organisms or malignant cells, protection of cells
from foreign agents, supplementation or replacement of specific hormones,
vitamins, or enzymes, and increasing or decreasing the speed of a physiologic
functions
type of drug, dosage, route of administration, patient Certain variables, such as _____________________, ________________,
condition _____________________, and __________________________, affect various
aspects of pharmacodynamics.
drug interaction can occur when two substances are prescribed concurrently, causing a modification
of the action of one or both drugs; may be intentional (beneficial) or unintended
(detrimental)
agonist interaction occurs when a drug potentiates or enhances the effect of another substance;
synergists and additives
agonistic medication The ________________________ binds to a specific receptor site in the body,
producing an alteration in biological function.
synergistic agents act in combination to produce a stronger or more powerful effect than would be
demonstrated if each agent was administered individually; the action of one agent
increases the action of the other agent when delivered together; each agent can be
given in a lower, sometimes safer dose while obtaining the same desired effect
additive agents alter some aspect of the action of the original agent; an example is the addition of
epinephrine to the local anesthetic lidocaine to prolong the anesthetic action by
causing vasoconstriction, which keeps the medication in place longer
antagonist An ______________________ binds to the agonist's receptor site, preventing the
agonist from binding there and causing its desired effect; this results in an absence
of the agonist's action, referred to as agonist reversal
, The timing of medication administration depends on: onset: the period of time required for the effects of the medication to begin
peak effect: the period of time of the maximum effect(s) of the medication
duration: the overall period of time when the effects of a medication are
demonstrated
indication a listing of the medical conditions that the medication is known to treat; the dosage
for each indication, as well as the delivery form, may vary according to the patient's
medical condition, weight, and age
contraindications a list of circumstances or medical conditions for which the medication should not be
used, depending on the medication and how it is metabolized in the body
actions the effects of the substance at the target site
theory of drug-receptor interaction states that the active substance in the drug has an affinity (attraction) for a specific
chemical constituent (component) of a cell; the interaction occurs on a molecular
level with a specific receptor on the cell surface or within the cell to produce the
pharmacological response
theory of drug-enzyme interaction states that a drug may combine with a specific enzyme to inhibit the action of the
enzyme or alter the cellular response to the enzyme
nonspecific drug interaction is related to a drug that does not act by either of the other two theories of interaction
and is considered nonspecific in its interaction
dosage the amount of medication delivered to the patient in order to achieve the optimal
therapeutic effect; depends on several factors, including the patient's age, weight,
and overall medical condition; commonly expressed in a ratio of medication
concentration per kilograms of patient body weight (mg/kg)
principal action, organ or body system, physiological Drugs are classified to their ___________________ (e.g., barbiturate), the
action, therapeutic action ________________________ affected (e.g., neurologic agent), the
_______________________ produced by the drug (e.g., central nervous system
depressant), or its ________________________ (e.g., anticonvulsant).
illness, disease The goal of medication administration is the treatment of _________________ or
_____________________.
therapeutic effect the concentration or dose of a medication used to produce the desired result
without producing harmful effects
side effects an expected, undesirable, but tolerable effect of medication; these can include
symptoms such a dry mouth, constipation, diarrhea, dizziness, or drowsiness
adverse effect an undesirable and potentially harmful effect of a medication that can lead to organ
damage or failure; a common reaction is hypersensitivity or allergic reaction, which
can range from mild skin irritation to anaphylaxis
toxic effect an undesirable and unacceptable effect of a medication; can include the promotion
of growth of cancerous tumors (carcinogens) or the development of birth defects
(teratogens)
