| A | B |
|---|
| laboratory testing | analysis of body fluids and tissues to aid in diagnosis and evaluation of treatment |
| diagnostic imaging | visualizing the structure and/or function of organs and tissues for diagnostic purposes |
| Radiology | specialty that uses X-rays in the diagnosis and treatment of disease |
| Nuclear medicine | specialty that diagnoses and treats disease using radioactive substances |
| Ultrasound | use of high-frequency inaudible sound waves to produce an image of body tissues |
| sonogram | a record produced by ultrasound |
| Computed Tomography (CT) | form of radiology that uses X-rays beamed at multiple angles and a computer to produce cross-sectional images of the body |
| Contrast Studies | diagnostic imaging techniques that use special substances that absorb x-rays to allow body structures of the same density to be distinguished on the resulting image |
| Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) | Imaging technique that uses electromagnetic energy to produce images of soft tissues in 3 dimensions |
| Pharmacology | the study of the preparation, properties, uses and actions of drugs |
| Drug | a chemical substance that affects the processes of the mind or body; used to prevent or treat a condition or disease |
| Pharmacy | licensed business involved in dispensing drugs |
| Pharmacist | professional who prepares and dispenses drugs upon written order from a physician; counsels patients |
| Pharmacy Technician | professional who can prepare and dispense drugs upon written order; does not counsel clients |
| dispensing | compounding, packaging, labelling, and selling or delivering a drug in response to a prescription |
| toxicology | study of the adverse effects of drugs and chemicals used for therapeutic purposes |
| plants, animals, minerals, semi-synthetic, synthetic | 5 sources of drugs |
| semi-synthetic | drugs from a natural source that are combined in the lab with synthetic compounds to alter their effect |
| synthetic | drugs completely formulated in the laboratory |
| chemical name | the name of a drug that represents its exact formula |
| generic name | official, nonproprietary name given by international body to ensure no two products have the same name; always spelled with a lowercase first letter |
| Trade name / Brand name | patented drug name chosen by a company for sales purposes; can be protected in perpetuity (forever); always spelled with an uppercase first letter |
| botanical name | drug name that refers to the natural substance a drug is derived from |
| Therapeutic | drugs that are taken to relieve symptoms |
| Diagnostic | Drugs used to perform diagnostic tests |
| Curative | Drugs used to overcome a disease, infection or other condition |
| Replacement | Drugs taken to replace a hormone or other normally present substance that the human body can no longer produce |
| prophylactic | Drugs used to prevent a condition or to decrease the severity of a condition |
| local | Scope of action if the drug is stored and produces an effect only at the site of application |
| systemic | scope of action if the drug circulates through the bloodstream to produce a general effect |
| cumulative | an effect whereby a drug accumulates faster in the body than it can be metabolized or excreted; causes drug to exert a greater effect |
| topical | drugs applied to a body surface |
| transdermal | drugs applied to the skin that are absorbed into the bloodstream |
| inhalation | drugs administered into the respiratory pathways to be absorbed into the mucous membranes; used to treat respiratory conditions |
| otic | drugs placed directly in the ear |
| ophthalmic | drugs placed directly in the eye |
| nasal | drugs sprayed or inhaled into the nostrils to be absorbed in the nasal cavity |
| sublingual | drugs placed under the tongue |
| buccal | drugs placed between the tongue and the cheek |
| vaginal | drugs inserted or applied to the vagina |
| rectal | drugs (suppositories) inserted into the rectum |
| oral | drugs ingested by mouth; most common route of transmission |
| parenteral | administration of drugs by injection; fastest route of transmission |
| subcutaneous | below the skin |
| intradermal | within the skin |
| intramuscular | within a muscle |
| intravenous | within the veins |
| Z-track | injection technique that seals off the site of injection |
| therapeutic action | the drug action considered desirable |
| side effect | effects expected to occur when using a drug; usually minor |
| adverse effect | a side effect of drug that is detrimental to the health and life of the patient |
| allergy | hypersensitivity reaction to a particular medication |
| body weight, age, time of day, gender, other medications | factors that influence a drug's effect |
| natural health products | vitamins and minerals, herbal remedies, homeopathic medicine and probiotics |
| compendium of Pharmaceuticals and Specialties (CPS) | updated list of all drugs with information on action, indications, contraindications, and side effects |
| fluoroscopy | use of X-rays and a fluorescent screen to produce real-time video images; often used during invasive procedures |
| anaphylaxis | severe, life-threatening allergic reaction |
| contraindications | factors in a patient's condition that make the use of a particular drug ill advised |
