METHACHOLINE CHLORIDE Meaning and
Definition
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Methacholine chloride is a pharmaceutical compound primarily used for diagnostic purposes in the field of respiratory medicine. It is a synthetic derivative of acetylcholine and belongs to the class of drugs known as cholinergic bronchoconstrictors.
When administered during a clinical test known as the methacholine challenge test or bronchoprovocation test, methacholine chloride is used to assess the airway responsiveness and identify the presence of airway hyperresponsiveness, a characteristic often associated with asthma and other obstructive respiratory conditions.
The compound acts by binding to specific receptors called muscarinic receptors located in smooth muscles lining the airways. This interaction leads to the constriction or narrowing of the bronchial tubes, causing a temporary and controlled decrease in lung function. By measuring the patient's lung function parameters, such as forced expiratory volume, forced vital capacity, and peak expiratory flow rate, healthcare professionals can evaluate the degree of airway sensitivity, diagnose asthma, or monitor treatment effectiveness.
While generally safe when administered in controlled settings under medical supervision, methacholine chloride can potentially cause adverse effects such as cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and even severe bronchospasm in some individuals who have heightened sensitivity to the compound. Therefore, this diagnostic agent should only be used by healthcare professionals experienced in the assessment and management of respiratory diseases.
Common Misspellings for METHACHOLINE CHLORIDE
- nethacholine chloride
- kethacholine chloride
- jethacholine chloride
- mwthacholine chloride
- msthacholine chloride
- mdthacholine chloride
- mrthacholine chloride
- m4thacholine chloride
- m3thacholine chloride
- merhacholine chloride
- mefhacholine chloride
- meghacholine chloride
- meyhacholine chloride
- me6hacholine chloride
- me5hacholine chloride
- metgacholine chloride
- metbacholine chloride
- metnacholine chloride
- metjacholine chloride
- metuacholine chloride
Etymology of METHACHOLINE CHLORIDE
The word "Methacholine Chloride" can be broken down into two parts: Methacholine and Chloride.
1. Methacholine: The term "methacholine" is derived from the combination of "methyl" and "choline". The prefix "methyl" comes from the Greek word "methy" meaning "alcohol". In organic chemistry, "methyl" refers to an alkyl group with one carbon atom bonded to three hydrogen atoms (CH3-). On the other hand, "choline" is a compound classified as a quaternary ammonium salt with a hydroxide group (-OH) attached. The term "choline" comes from the Greek word "khole", meaning "bile".
2. Chloride: The term "chloride" originates from the chemical element "chlorine" (Cl), which is one of the halogens.
