Principles of Pharmacology | Questions with 100% Verified
Answers | Latest Update 2026/2027
Question: Pharmacology
Answer: scientific study of the interactions between a living organisms and drugs that affect normal or
abnormal biochemical function
Question: Drug definition (doctor)
Answer: A chemical substance used in the treatment, cure, prevention, or diagnosis of a disease or used to
otherwise enhance physical or mental well being.
Question: Drug definition (biologist)
Answer: An exogenous chemical not necessary for normal cellular functioning that significantly alters the
functions of certain cells of the body (when taken in relatively low doses)
Question: Drug Action
Answer: Molecular changes produced by a drug when it binds to a target site (receptor)
- Molecular/cellular levels
Question: Drug Effect
Answer: Changes in psychological or physiological functions
- systemic level
Question: Therapeutic effects
Answer: the drug receptor interaction produces desired physiological or behavioral changes ** all other effects
are side effects
Question: Specific Drug Effect
Answer: Based on physical and biochemical interactions of a drug with a target site (receptor)
Question: Nonspecific drug effects
Answer: Based on certain unique characteristics of the individual (mood, expectations, perceptions, attitudes)
Question: Non specific drug effect Example
Answer: Placebo
Question: What is a placebo?
Answer: pharmacologically inert compound but "belief in drug" may produce real physiological effects despite
the lack of chemical activity
Question: How to control of placebo?
Answer: Double blind experiment
Question: Therapeutic (or side) effects of a drug is dependent on (2)
Answer: 1. Pharmacodynamics
2. Pharmacokinetics
, Question: Pharmacodynamics
Answer: the interaction of a drug with target receptors, cells, tissues What the drug does to the body
Question: Pharmacokinetics
Answer: The amount of a drug in the blood that is free to bind at target sites What the body does to a drug
Question: 5 factors that contribute to the bioavailability of a drug
Answer: 1) Drug administration
2) Absorption and distribution
3) Binding
4) Inactivation
5) Excretion
Question: Subcutaneous Administration
Answer: into the space beneath the skin
Question: Routes of Drug Administration
Answer: - Intravenous (IV)
- Oral administration (PO)
- Intramuscular (IM)
- Subcutaneous
- Inhalation
- Sublingual
- Intrarectal
- Topical
- Transdermal
- Epidural
* In animal research
- Intracerebroventricular (ICV)
Intraperitoneal (IP)
Question: Which method of drug administration is the most common route in humans
Answer: oral administration
Question: Methods used only in animal research
Answer: - Intracerebroventricular (ICV)
Intraperitoneal (IP)
Question: Oral Administration Advantages (4) and Disadvantages (2)
Answer: Advantage
- easily self administered, low discomfort, safe, economical
Disadvantages
- Drug must be resistant to destruction by stomach acids and end enzymes (e.g insulin is
not resistant, must be administered - SC, IV)
- slow absorption, drugs often undergo extensive first past metabolism
Question: First pass metabolism
Answer: drugs absorbed during pass through portal system at liver. this significantly reduces bioavailability
and the amount of active drug that reaches the general circulation
Answers | Latest Update 2026/2027
Question: Pharmacology
Answer: scientific study of the interactions between a living organisms and drugs that affect normal or
abnormal biochemical function
Question: Drug definition (doctor)
Answer: A chemical substance used in the treatment, cure, prevention, or diagnosis of a disease or used to
otherwise enhance physical or mental well being.
Question: Drug definition (biologist)
Answer: An exogenous chemical not necessary for normal cellular functioning that significantly alters the
functions of certain cells of the body (when taken in relatively low doses)
Question: Drug Action
Answer: Molecular changes produced by a drug when it binds to a target site (receptor)
- Molecular/cellular levels
Question: Drug Effect
Answer: Changes in psychological or physiological functions
- systemic level
Question: Therapeutic effects
Answer: the drug receptor interaction produces desired physiological or behavioral changes ** all other effects
are side effects
Question: Specific Drug Effect
Answer: Based on physical and biochemical interactions of a drug with a target site (receptor)
Question: Nonspecific drug effects
Answer: Based on certain unique characteristics of the individual (mood, expectations, perceptions, attitudes)
Question: Non specific drug effect Example
Answer: Placebo
Question: What is a placebo?
Answer: pharmacologically inert compound but "belief in drug" may produce real physiological effects despite
the lack of chemical activity
Question: How to control of placebo?
Answer: Double blind experiment
Question: Therapeutic (or side) effects of a drug is dependent on (2)
Answer: 1. Pharmacodynamics
2. Pharmacokinetics
, Question: Pharmacodynamics
Answer: the interaction of a drug with target receptors, cells, tissues What the drug does to the body
Question: Pharmacokinetics
Answer: The amount of a drug in the blood that is free to bind at target sites What the body does to a drug
Question: 5 factors that contribute to the bioavailability of a drug
Answer: 1) Drug administration
2) Absorption and distribution
3) Binding
4) Inactivation
5) Excretion
Question: Subcutaneous Administration
Answer: into the space beneath the skin
Question: Routes of Drug Administration
Answer: - Intravenous (IV)
- Oral administration (PO)
- Intramuscular (IM)
- Subcutaneous
- Inhalation
- Sublingual
- Intrarectal
- Topical
- Transdermal
- Epidural
* In animal research
- Intracerebroventricular (ICV)
Intraperitoneal (IP)
Question: Which method of drug administration is the most common route in humans
Answer: oral administration
Question: Methods used only in animal research
Answer: - Intracerebroventricular (ICV)
Intraperitoneal (IP)
Question: Oral Administration Advantages (4) and Disadvantages (2)
Answer: Advantage
- easily self administered, low discomfort, safe, economical
Disadvantages
- Drug must be resistant to destruction by stomach acids and end enzymes (e.g insulin is
not resistant, must be administered - SC, IV)
- slow absorption, drugs often undergo extensive first past metabolism
Question: First pass metabolism
Answer: drugs absorbed during pass through portal system at liver. this significantly reduces bioavailability
and the amount of active drug that reaches the general circulation
