Drugs used in anaesthesia
Local anaesthetics Local anaesthetics are drugs used primarily to inhibit pain by preventing impulse conduction along sensory nerves. They achieve this by blocking voltage-sensitive sodium ion (Na + ) channels…
Drugs and the ear
Physiology of the ear The ear is a sensory organ that detects sound, head position and movement. The outer ear collects sound waves and directs them to the tympanic membrane…
Drugs and the eye
The eye is a 25-mm sphere made up of two fluid-filled compartments (the aqueous humour and the vitreous humour) separated by a translucent lens, all encased within four layers of…
Drugs and the genitourinary system
Benign prostatic hyperplasia In men the most common cause of urinary retention is benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), due to the blocking of flow of urine out of the bladder. There…
Drugs and the gastrointestinal tract
The main physiological aspects of gastrointestinal (GI) tract function that are of pharmacological importance are gastric acid secretion, the motility of the bowel and the excretion of its contents; the…
Drugs and the skin
The most common skin diseases are dermatitis (eczema), acne, psoriasis, skin cancer (usually managed surgically), viral warts and urticarias (which can be allergic or non-allergic in nature). Dermatitis (eczema) Eczema…
Drugs and the endocrine and metabolic systems
The endocrine and metabolic systems of the body consist of glands with organs that secrete hormones into the circulation. Thus secreted hormones modulate tissue function elsewhere in the body, and…
Drugs and the musculoskeletal system
Bone metabolism Bone is continuously remodelled throughout life, osteoclasts digesting it and osteoblasts laying down new bone ( Fig. 20.1 ). Endogenous factors influencing the process include parathormone (PTH, parathyroid…
Drugs and the renal system
The main function of the kidney is the excretion of waste products; it is also important in the regulation of the salt and water content of the body and in…
Drugs and the pulmonary system
The chief functions of respiration are to supply oxygen (O 2 ) and remove carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) from the body. The main disorders of the respiratory system are…
