HOSA Pharmacology Exam Questions
and Correct Verified Answers| 2026
Update
Absorption
Process by which a drug enters the circulatory system (blood).
Intravenous (IV) & Intra-Arterial
Administration/Dosage routs that do not require absorption.
Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, & Elimination... The Pharmacokinetic Process
ADME
Addiction
Dependence characterized by a perceived need to take a drug to attain the psychological &
physical effects of mood altering substances.
Affinity
,Natural attraction - the strength by which a particular chemical messenger binds to its receptor
site on a cell
Agonist
Drug that mimics the action of a neurotransmitter when it binds to a particular receptor site -
i.e. & triggers the cell's response in a manner similar to the action of the body's own chemical
messenger.
Allergen
Substance of a usually harmless nature that produces an abnormal hypersensitive reaction.
Allergic Response
A hypersensitive reaction to any usually harmless substance that does not normally cause a
reaction.
Anaphylactic Reaction
Severe allergic response resulting in immediate life-threatening respiratory distress, usually
followed by vascular collapse & shock accompanied w/ hives.
Angioedema
Abnormal accumulation of fluid in tissue.
,Antagonist
Drug that neutralizes or counteracts the effects of a neurotransmitter or another drug when it
binds to a particular receptor site.
Antigen
Foreign substance that is recognized by the immune system & induces the immune system to
produce antibodies to defend against the foreign substance.
Bioavailability
Degree to which a drug or other substance becomes available to the target tissue after
administration.
Blood-Brain Barrier
Fortified area that prevents many substances from entering the cerebro-spinal fluid from the
blood. This area is formed by glial cells that envelope capillaries in the central nervous system.
This creates a shield that blocks many water-soluble compounds, but is permeable to lipid-
soluble substances.
Ceiling Effect
Point @ which no clinical response occurs w/ increased dosage of a drug.
Clearance
, Rate @ which a drug is eliminated from a specific volume of blood per unit of time.
Contraindication
Any disease, condition, or symptom for which a drug will not be beneficial & may be harmful.
Dependence
State in which a person's body has adapted physiologically & psychologically to a drug & cannot
function w/o it.
Distribution
Process by which a drug moves from the blood into other body fluids & tissues & ultimately to
its site(s) of action.
Dose
Quantity of a drug administered at one time.
Drug Abuse
Use of a drug for purposes other than those prescribed &/or in amounts that were not directed.
This is often linked to addiction.
Drug Interaction
and Correct Verified Answers| 2026
Update
Absorption
Process by which a drug enters the circulatory system (blood).
Intravenous (IV) & Intra-Arterial
Administration/Dosage routs that do not require absorption.
Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, & Elimination... The Pharmacokinetic Process
ADME
Addiction
Dependence characterized by a perceived need to take a drug to attain the psychological &
physical effects of mood altering substances.
Affinity
,Natural attraction - the strength by which a particular chemical messenger binds to its receptor
site on a cell
Agonist
Drug that mimics the action of a neurotransmitter when it binds to a particular receptor site -
i.e. & triggers the cell's response in a manner similar to the action of the body's own chemical
messenger.
Allergen
Substance of a usually harmless nature that produces an abnormal hypersensitive reaction.
Allergic Response
A hypersensitive reaction to any usually harmless substance that does not normally cause a
reaction.
Anaphylactic Reaction
Severe allergic response resulting in immediate life-threatening respiratory distress, usually
followed by vascular collapse & shock accompanied w/ hives.
Angioedema
Abnormal accumulation of fluid in tissue.
,Antagonist
Drug that neutralizes or counteracts the effects of a neurotransmitter or another drug when it
binds to a particular receptor site.
Antigen
Foreign substance that is recognized by the immune system & induces the immune system to
produce antibodies to defend against the foreign substance.
Bioavailability
Degree to which a drug or other substance becomes available to the target tissue after
administration.
Blood-Brain Barrier
Fortified area that prevents many substances from entering the cerebro-spinal fluid from the
blood. This area is formed by glial cells that envelope capillaries in the central nervous system.
This creates a shield that blocks many water-soluble compounds, but is permeable to lipid-
soluble substances.
Ceiling Effect
Point @ which no clinical response occurs w/ increased dosage of a drug.
Clearance
, Rate @ which a drug is eliminated from a specific volume of blood per unit of time.
Contraindication
Any disease, condition, or symptom for which a drug will not be beneficial & may be harmful.
Dependence
State in which a person's body has adapted physiologically & psychologically to a drug & cannot
function w/o it.
Distribution
Process by which a drug moves from the blood into other body fluids & tissues & ultimately to
its site(s) of action.
Dose
Quantity of a drug administered at one time.
Drug Abuse
Use of a drug for purposes other than those prescribed &/or in amounts that were not directed.
This is often linked to addiction.
Drug Interaction
