Pharmacology is the science of drugs and medications, including a substance's origin, composition and interaction with biological systems; specifically through pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, therapeutic use, and toxicology. The discipline examines these interactions through pharmacokinetics (what the body does to the drug) and pharmacodynamics (what the drug does to the body), both of which determine how a substance alters normal or abnormal biochemical function. Substances with medicinal properties are classified as pharmaceuticals, while the term drug encompasses any chemical agent that alters biological processes.
The field encompasses drug composition and properties, functions, sources, medicinal chemistry, drug design, molecular and cellular mechanisms, organ/systems mechanisms, ...
Current Images
View on-wiki →
Main article image
Cholinergic synapse.svg
This image outlines the major routes of transport of acetylcholine within a cholinergic synapse.
Constant tempertature bath for isolated organs Wellcome M0013241.jpg
Diagrammatic section used for testing the activity of samples of Pituitary extracts, constant tempe...
Dose response antagonist.jpg
Diagrammatic dose response curves for the activity of an agonist and two concentrations of reversibl...
Drug discovery cycle.svg
Schematic diagram of drug discovery cycle.
Interactive icon.svg
Icon for indicating that something is interactive (can be clicked)
Issoria lathonia.jpg
Morphin - Morphine.svg
Structure of morphine
People icon.svg
People icon
Raw opium.jpg
Toxicology Research at FDA (NCTR 1193) (6009043040).jpg
Токсикологическое исследование.
Tree of life by Haeckel.jpg
Ernst Haeckel's "tree of life", Darwin's metaphorical description of the pattern of universal common...