Pharmacology Vocabulary

noun a mixture or combination

• The admixture of different cultures in the city has created a diverse and vibrant community.
• I love the admixture of flavors in this dish, it's so delicious!
• The party was a wild admixture of people from all walks of life.
• His speech was an admixture of truth and exaggeration, making it hard to discern what was real.

verb to make or become wider, larger, or more open

• The doctor used eye drops to dilate the patient's pupils during the examination.
• I heard that staring at a bright light can make your pupils dilate.
• I can't believe how dilated my eyes are after watching that scary movie!
• Her heart seemed to dilate with joy when she saw her long-lost friend.

adjective relating to or occurring in the intestines

• The enteric nervous system is responsible for regulating the function of the gastrointestinal tract.
• I learned in biology class that the enteric system controls digestion.
• My gut feeling told me to trust the enteric system.
• The enteric system acts like a second brain in our bodies, influencing our gut instincts.

noun a drug that has a calming effect and is used to induce sleep or reduce anxiety

adjective having a calming or soothing effect

• The doctor prescribed a sedative to help the patient relax before the surgery.
• I took a sedative last night to help me sleep better.
• I need to pop a sedative to calm my nerves before the big presentation.
• Listening to classical music has a sedative effect on my mind.

noun the act or process of sorbing

• Sorption is the process by which a substance is adsorbed or absorbed onto the surface of another material.
• The sorption of water onto the sponge makes it swell up.
• I can't believe the sorption of gossip in this office!
• Her sorption of knowledge was evident in her insightful analysis.

noun a form or version of something that differs in some respect from other forms or versions

adjective differing in some respect from the standard or usual

• The new variant of the virus has raised concerns among public health officials.
• Have you heard about the new variant going around?
• That variant is no joke, we need to be careful.
• The variant in her personality made her stand out from the rest.

noun in biology, a muscle, gland, or organ capable of responding to a stimulus, especially a nerve impulse

• The effector protein is responsible for carrying out the specific function of a gene.
• The effector helps the cell do its job.
• The effector is like the muscle of the cell.
• Think of the effector as the worker bee in the hive, getting things done.

noun a substance that destroys or inhibits the growth of microorganisms

adjective describing a substance that destroys or inhibits the growth of microorganisms

• The hospital uses antimicrobial coatings on all surfaces to prevent the spread of infections.
• I always make sure to use antimicrobial hand sanitizer before eating.
• Dude, you gotta get some of that antimicrobial spray for your gym bag.
• Her words had an antimicrobial effect on the toxic atmosphere in the room.

noun a substance that promotes the absorption of fluids or other substances

adjective having the quality of promoting absorption

• The doctor prescribed an absorbefacient cream to treat the patient's skin condition.
• I heard that absorbefacient ointment works wonders for healing cuts and scrapes.
• Hey, can you pass me that absorbefacient gel? My sunburn is killing me.
• His words were like an absorbefacient, soothing the pain of her broken heart.

noun a type of organic compound that is a fundamental component of nucleic acids like DNA and RNA

• Purine is a type of organic compound found in certain foods and beverages.
• I read that purine is in a lot of high-protein foods.
• I try to avoid foods high in purine because they give me gout.
• The purine content in that drink is through the roof!