PROTOCURARINE Meaning and
Definition
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Protocurarine is a naturally occurring alkaloid compound that belongs to the group of curare-like compounds. It is primarily obtained from the South American plant Chondrodendron tomentosum and is widely utilized in medical and scientific applications due to its potent neuromuscular blocking properties.
As a neuromuscular blocking agent, protocurarine works by blocking the transmission of nerve impulses at the neuromuscular junction, thereby preventing the contraction of skeletal muscles. This property makes it an invaluable tool in surgical procedures, as it induces muscle relaxation and immobilization, aiding in facilitating surgical access and reducing complications related to muscle movement.
Protocurarine acts by competitively binding to nicotinic receptors on the motor end plate of skeletal muscles, preventing the binding of acetylcholine, the neurotransmitter responsible for the initiation of muscle contraction. By blocking this interaction, protocurarine effectively inhibits the depolarization and subsequent contraction of skeletal muscles.
It is important to note that protocurarine has a relatively slow onset of action and a relatively long duration of effect, which necessitates careful patient monitoring and titration to achieve the desired level of muscle relaxation while minimizing the potential for respiratory depression and other adverse effects.
In summary, protocurarine is a natural compound with powerful neuromuscular blocking properties, commonly used in medical and surgical settings for inducing muscle relaxation. Its mechanism of action involves competitive binding to nicotinic receptors, preventing the initiation of muscle contraction and facilitating surgical interventions by immobilizing skeletal muscles.
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An alkaloid, said to be extracted from curare, exhibiting the poisoning qualities of the drug in very active form.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for PROTOCURARINE
- orotocurarine
- lrotocurarine
- -rotocurarine
- 0rotocurarine
- peotocurarine
- pdotocurarine
- pfotocurarine
- ptotocurarine
- p5otocurarine
- p4otocurarine
- pritocurarine
- prktocurarine
- prltocurarine
- prptocurarine
- pr0tocurarine
- pr9tocurarine
- prorocurarine
- profocurarine
- progocurarine
- proyocurarine
Etymology of PROTOCURARINE
The word "protocurarine" is derived from "proto-" meaning primitive or early stage, and "curare" which refers to a South American plant extract used as a paralyzing poison by indigenous people. Curare was primarily used to relax muscles during hunting to immobilize prey and is known for its paralyzing effects. The addition of the suffix "-ine" is common in chemistry and pharmacology to indicate that the word refers to an alkaloid or compound derived from a plant. Therefore, "protocurarine" can be understood as a term referring to a basic or early stage curare-like compound.
Similar spelling word for PROTOCURARINE
