PHARM BLOCK 1 SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM
MEDICATIONS STUDY GUIDE WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTION!!
1. Unlike the parasympathetic nervous system, which uses muscarinic receptors at
the effector organ, the sympathetic nervous system uses what receptor
instead?: Adrenergic receptor
2. Unlike the parasympathetic nervous system, which uses acetylcholine as
the primary neurotransmitter, the sympathetic nervous system uses what
primary neurotransmitter instead?: Norepinephrine (NE)
3. What are the 3 main receptors used by the sympathetic nervous system?: -
Alpha receptors (post-synaptic); Beta receptors (post-synaptic); Alpha 2 receptors
(pre-synaptic)
4. Norepinephrine (NE) is metabolized/inactivated by what 2 enzymes? And
where?: Pre-synaptic: MAO (monoamine oxidase)
Post-synaptic: COMT (catechol-o-methyltransferase)
5. What are the 3 catecholamines (adrenergic neurotransmitters) used by the
sympathetic nervous system?: Norepinephrine; Epinephrine; Dopamine
6. Catecholamines (norepinephrine, epinephrine & dopamine) possess poor
_________ penetration due to being polar (hydrophilic): CNS
7. Activation of which NE receptor causes vasoconstriction & increased resistance
& diastolic blood pressure?: Alpha 1 (α1) Receptors
8. Activation of which Epi receptor causes increased systolic blood pressure?-
: Beta 1 (β1) Receptors
,9. Activation of which dopamine receptor causes increased heart rate &
contractility?: Beta 1 (β1) Receptors
10. Activation of which Epi receptor causes vasodilation & slight decrease in
resistance & diastolic blood pressure?: Beta 2 (β2) Receptors
11. Epinephrine has what 3 primary effects?: Increases coronary blood flow;
Increases aqueous
humor drainage; Relaxes bronchial smooth muscle
12. Activation of what 2 dopamine receptors causes vasodilation, vessels to
decrease resistance & increased blood flow?: Dopamine 1 (D1) receptors;
Dopamine 2 (D2)
receptors
13. Generally speaking, Alpha 1 (α1) Receptors have responses that
are ___________ while Alpha 2 (α2) Receptors have responses that are
________________: Excitatory; Inhibitory
14. Which receptors when activated increase blood pressure due to
vasoconstriction?: Alpha 1 (α1) Receptors
15. Which receptor when activated inhibits the release of norepinephrine, inhibit
lipolysis & inhibit insulin release?: Alpha 2 (α2) Receptors
16. Which receptor when activated are excitatory & increase contractility?: Beta
1 (β1) Receptors
17. Which receptor when activated causes bronchodilation, promotes bladder
relaxation, decreases GI tract motility, increases glucagon & increases liver
glycogenolysis?: Beta 2 (β2) Receptors
18. The radial muscle of the eye utilizes what receptor, causing mydriasis (dilation)
of the pupil?: Alpha 1 (α1) Receptor
, 19. Norepinephrine 2 actions: Vasoconstriction
Increase BP
20. Norepinephrine acts on what receptor(s)?: Alpha receptors
21. Norepinephrine clinical use: Hypotension (short-term shock treatment)
22. Norepinephrine 3 adverse events: Hypertension
Cerebral hemorrhage
Tissue necrosis
23. Norepinephrine 4 drug interactions: Alpha blockers
Beta blockers
MAO inhibitors
COMT inhibitors
24. Epinephrine 3 actions: Increases systolic BP
Bronchodilation
Prolongs anesthetics
25. Epinephrine acts on what receptor(s)?: Alpha receptors; Beta receptors
26. Epinephrine 3 clinical uses: Bronchospasms
Anaphylactic shock
Cardiac arrest
27. Epinephrine 4 drug interactions: Alpha blockers
Beta blockers
MAO inhibitors
COMT inhibitors
28. Epinephrine 5 drug interactions: Hypertension
MEDICATIONS STUDY GUIDE WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTION!!
1. Unlike the parasympathetic nervous system, which uses muscarinic receptors at
the effector organ, the sympathetic nervous system uses what receptor
instead?: Adrenergic receptor
2. Unlike the parasympathetic nervous system, which uses acetylcholine as
the primary neurotransmitter, the sympathetic nervous system uses what
primary neurotransmitter instead?: Norepinephrine (NE)
3. What are the 3 main receptors used by the sympathetic nervous system?: -
Alpha receptors (post-synaptic); Beta receptors (post-synaptic); Alpha 2 receptors
(pre-synaptic)
4. Norepinephrine (NE) is metabolized/inactivated by what 2 enzymes? And
where?: Pre-synaptic: MAO (monoamine oxidase)
Post-synaptic: COMT (catechol-o-methyltransferase)
5. What are the 3 catecholamines (adrenergic neurotransmitters) used by the
sympathetic nervous system?: Norepinephrine; Epinephrine; Dopamine
6. Catecholamines (norepinephrine, epinephrine & dopamine) possess poor
_________ penetration due to being polar (hydrophilic): CNS
7. Activation of which NE receptor causes vasoconstriction & increased resistance
& diastolic blood pressure?: Alpha 1 (α1) Receptors
8. Activation of which Epi receptor causes increased systolic blood pressure?-
: Beta 1 (β1) Receptors
,9. Activation of which dopamine receptor causes increased heart rate &
contractility?: Beta 1 (β1) Receptors
10. Activation of which Epi receptor causes vasodilation & slight decrease in
resistance & diastolic blood pressure?: Beta 2 (β2) Receptors
11. Epinephrine has what 3 primary effects?: Increases coronary blood flow;
Increases aqueous
humor drainage; Relaxes bronchial smooth muscle
12. Activation of what 2 dopamine receptors causes vasodilation, vessels to
decrease resistance & increased blood flow?: Dopamine 1 (D1) receptors;
Dopamine 2 (D2)
receptors
13. Generally speaking, Alpha 1 (α1) Receptors have responses that
are ___________ while Alpha 2 (α2) Receptors have responses that are
________________: Excitatory; Inhibitory
14. Which receptors when activated increase blood pressure due to
vasoconstriction?: Alpha 1 (α1) Receptors
15. Which receptor when activated inhibits the release of norepinephrine, inhibit
lipolysis & inhibit insulin release?: Alpha 2 (α2) Receptors
16. Which receptor when activated are excitatory & increase contractility?: Beta
1 (β1) Receptors
17. Which receptor when activated causes bronchodilation, promotes bladder
relaxation, decreases GI tract motility, increases glucagon & increases liver
glycogenolysis?: Beta 2 (β2) Receptors
18. The radial muscle of the eye utilizes what receptor, causing mydriasis (dilation)
of the pupil?: Alpha 1 (α1) Receptor
, 19. Norepinephrine 2 actions: Vasoconstriction
Increase BP
20. Norepinephrine acts on what receptor(s)?: Alpha receptors
21. Norepinephrine clinical use: Hypotension (short-term shock treatment)
22. Norepinephrine 3 adverse events: Hypertension
Cerebral hemorrhage
Tissue necrosis
23. Norepinephrine 4 drug interactions: Alpha blockers
Beta blockers
MAO inhibitors
COMT inhibitors
24. Epinephrine 3 actions: Increases systolic BP
Bronchodilation
Prolongs anesthetics
25. Epinephrine acts on what receptor(s)?: Alpha receptors; Beta receptors
26. Epinephrine 3 clinical uses: Bronchospasms
Anaphylactic shock
Cardiac arrest
27. Epinephrine 4 drug interactions: Alpha blockers
Beta blockers
MAO inhibitors
COMT inhibitors
28. Epinephrine 5 drug interactions: Hypertension
