Bactericidal
/bækˌtɪəriˈsaɪdəl/
A substance that kills bacteria.
Bacteriostatic
/bækˌtɪərioʊˈstætɪk/
An agent that inhibits the growth or reproduction of bacteria without killing them.
Barbiturate
/bɑːrˈbɪtʃərɪt/
A class of drugs that act as central nervous system depressants.
Benzodiazepine
/ˌbɛnzoʊdaɪˈæzəpiːn/
A class of psychoactive drugs used to treat anxiety, insomnia, and seizures.
Bioassay
/ˈbaɪoʊˌæseɪ/
A test to determine the potency of a substance by its effect on living cells or tissues.
Bioavailability
/ˌbaɪoʊəveɪləˈbɪlɪti/
The proportion of a drug that enters the circulation when introduced into the body.
Bioequivalence
/ˌbaɪoʊɪˈkwɪvələns/
The property of two drugs having the same rate and extent of absorption.
Biotransformation
/ˌbaɪoʊtrænsfərˈmeɪʃən/
The chemical alteration of a substance (drug) by a biological system (metabolism).
Bisphosphonate
/bɪsˈfɒsfəneɪt/
A class of drugs that prevent the loss of bone density.
Blood-brain barrier
/blʌd breɪn ˈbæriər/
A filtering mechanism of the capillaries that carries blood to the brain and spinal cord tissue.
Bolus
/ˈboʊləs/
A single, large dose of a drug administered rapidly.
Bradycardia
/ˌbrædiˈkɑːrdiə/
An abnormally slow heart rate, typically under 60 beats per minute.
Bronchoconstriction
/ˌbrɒŋkoʊkənˈstrɪkʃən/
The constriction of the airways in the lungs due to the tightening of surrounding smooth muscle.
Bronchodilator
/ˌbrɒŋkoʊdaɪˈleɪtər/
A drug that causes widening of the bronchi, used to treat asthma.
Buccal
/ˈbʌkəl/
Relating to the cheek; specifically drug administration between the cheek and gums.
Bulla
/ˈbʊlə/
A large blister containing serous fluid.
Buprenorphine
/ˌbjuːprəˈnɔːrfiːn/
An opioid used to treat opioid use disorder and acute/chronic pain.
Byssinosis
/ˌbɪsɪˈnoʊsɪs/
A lung disease caused by inhaling cotton dust or fibers.