ALH 2202 TOPIC 4 | COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE, PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
2026/2027
Adrenergic drugs (Sympathomimetics) - ANS ✔✔Drugs that mimic the sympathetic nervous
system (SNS) fight-or-flight response by increasing heart rate, blood pressure, and opening
airways
Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS) - ANS ✔✔The body's fight-or-flight system activated during
stress or danger
Fight-or-Flight Response - ANS ✔✔Physiologic response that increases heart rate, blood
pressure, and breathing rate
Catecholamines - ANS ✔✔Natural neurotransmitters epinephrine, norepinephrine, and
dopamine that adrenergic drugs mimic
Alpha-1 (α1) receptors - ANS ✔✔Located on blood vessels and smooth muscle and cause
vasoconstriction and pupil dilation (mydriasis) when stimulated
Beta-1 (β1) receptors - ANS ✔✔Located primarily in the heart and increase heart rate,
contractility, and conduction speed when stimulated
Positive inotropic effect - ANS ✔✔Increased force of cardiac contraction
Positive chronotropic effect - ANS ✔✔Increased heart rate
Positive dromotropic effect - ANS ✔✔Increased speed of electrical conduction through the
heart
, Beta-2 (β2) receptors - ANS ✔✔Located in bronchioles, arterioles, and visceral smooth muscle
and cause bronchodilation, uterine relaxation, and glycogenolysis
Dopaminergic receptors - ANS ✔✔Located in renal, mesenteric, coronary, and cerebral arteries
and cause vasodilation to increase blood flow
Direct-acting adrenergic drugs - ANS ✔✔Bind directly to adrenergic receptors to cause a
response
Indirect-acting adrenergic drugs - ANS ✔✔Cause release of stored catecholamines from nerve
endings
Mixed-acting adrenergic drugs - ANS ✔✔Both bind directly to receptors and cause
neurotransmitter release
Dobutamine - ANS ✔✔β1-selective drug that increases cardiac output and contractility and is
given as a continuous IV infusion
Dopamine - ANS ✔✔Dose-dependent catecholamine used for shock, hypotension, and heart
failure with dopaminergic, β1, and α effects
Dopamine extravasation risk - ANS ✔✔Leakage from IV can cause severe vasoconstriction and
tissue damage
Epinephrine (Adrenalin) - ANS ✔✔Nonselective α and β agonist used for anaphylaxis and
cardiac arrest
Epinephrine anaphylaxis action - ANS ✔✔α effects raise blood pressure and reduce swelling
while β2 effects open airways
2026/2027
Adrenergic drugs (Sympathomimetics) - ANS ✔✔Drugs that mimic the sympathetic nervous
system (SNS) fight-or-flight response by increasing heart rate, blood pressure, and opening
airways
Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS) - ANS ✔✔The body's fight-or-flight system activated during
stress or danger
Fight-or-Flight Response - ANS ✔✔Physiologic response that increases heart rate, blood
pressure, and breathing rate
Catecholamines - ANS ✔✔Natural neurotransmitters epinephrine, norepinephrine, and
dopamine that adrenergic drugs mimic
Alpha-1 (α1) receptors - ANS ✔✔Located on blood vessels and smooth muscle and cause
vasoconstriction and pupil dilation (mydriasis) when stimulated
Beta-1 (β1) receptors - ANS ✔✔Located primarily in the heart and increase heart rate,
contractility, and conduction speed when stimulated
Positive inotropic effect - ANS ✔✔Increased force of cardiac contraction
Positive chronotropic effect - ANS ✔✔Increased heart rate
Positive dromotropic effect - ANS ✔✔Increased speed of electrical conduction through the
heart
, Beta-2 (β2) receptors - ANS ✔✔Located in bronchioles, arterioles, and visceral smooth muscle
and cause bronchodilation, uterine relaxation, and glycogenolysis
Dopaminergic receptors - ANS ✔✔Located in renal, mesenteric, coronary, and cerebral arteries
and cause vasodilation to increase blood flow
Direct-acting adrenergic drugs - ANS ✔✔Bind directly to adrenergic receptors to cause a
response
Indirect-acting adrenergic drugs - ANS ✔✔Cause release of stored catecholamines from nerve
endings
Mixed-acting adrenergic drugs - ANS ✔✔Both bind directly to receptors and cause
neurotransmitter release
Dobutamine - ANS ✔✔β1-selective drug that increases cardiac output and contractility and is
given as a continuous IV infusion
Dopamine - ANS ✔✔Dose-dependent catecholamine used for shock, hypotension, and heart
failure with dopaminergic, β1, and α effects
Dopamine extravasation risk - ANS ✔✔Leakage from IV can cause severe vasoconstriction and
tissue damage
Epinephrine (Adrenalin) - ANS ✔✔Nonselective α and β agonist used for anaphylaxis and
cardiac arrest
Epinephrine anaphylaxis action - ANS ✔✔α effects raise blood pressure and reduce swelling
while β2 effects open airways
