Module 1

Question 1

You develop a new formulation of the vitamin folic acid and seek to have it approved for use in humans. Which directorate would deal with your submission?
A. Therapeutic Products Directorate
B. Biologics and Genetic Therapies Directorate
C. Natural Health Products Directorate
D. Health Canada Products and Food Directorate

Answer 1

C. Natural Health Products Directorate

Question 2

The fluid mosaic nature of the cell membrane is important in the understanding of drug movement because drugs must be:
A. lipid soluble to diffuse across the phospholipid bilayer
B. carry a positive charge at all times to cross membranes
C. bound to proteins to be delivered to the membrane surface.
D. small molecules to squeeze between the phosphate heads.

Answer 2

A. lipid soluble to diffuse across the phospholipid bilayer

Question 3

Which of the following best describes quaternary ammonium compounds?
A. A nitrogen atom bonded to four functional groups with no net charge
B. Molecules that easily penetrate the cell membrane
C. Molecules that always carry a positive charge.
D. Molecules that are positively charged when placed in an alkaline solution.

Answer 3

C. Molecules that always carry a positive charge.

Question 4

Which of the following best describes how hydrophilic molecules leave capillary beds?
A. They pass through gaps in the capillary wall.
B. They diffuse through capillary endothelial cells.
C. They are transported by tight junctions out of the capillary.
D. Drugs are unable to leave capillary beds.

Answer 4

A. They pass through gaps in the capillary wall.

Question 5

In order to cross cell membranes, polar molecules:
A. penetrate cell membranes only if there is a pH gradient.
B. require specific transport proteins to cross membranes.
C. can move across cell membranes via channels or pores.
D. are administered orally so they can be absorbed in the stomach.

Answer 5

C. can move across cell membranes via channels or pores.

Question 6

As opposed to capillaries in the muscle, capillaries in the brain have:
A. fenestrations that glue the capillary cells tightly together.
B. gaps that allow toxins to leak back into the capillaries from the brain.
C. tight junctions that prevent toxic substances from getting into the brain.
D. special channels that allow only lipophilic drugs to enter the brain.

Answer 6

C. tight junctions that prevent toxic substances from getting into the brain.

Question 7

Which of the following organs plays a role in drug excretion?
 A. Gall Bladder
 B. Heart
 C. Brain
 D. Muscle

Answer 7

A. Gall Bladder

Question 8

Following oral absorption, drugs pass directly into:
 A. the systemic circulation
 B. the gall bladder
 C. the liver
 D. the portal vein

Answer 8

D. the portal vein

Question 9

Which of the following routes of administration is considered to be enteral?
 A. Intramuscular
 B. Topical
 C. Subcutaneous
 D. Rectal

Answer 9

D. Rectal

Question 10

In order to cross the cell membrane by direct penetration, drugs must have:
A. no net charge
B. an uneven distribution of charge.
C. a clustering of negative charges on one side of the molecule.
D. at least one nitrogen atom with four bonds.

Answer 10

A. no net charge