Pharmacology · Module 6 · Pain, inflammation and immune-modifying drugs

Pain and Inflammation Lab

Block COX enzymes and watch the stomach, platelets, kidneys and a sore joint respond, keep an opioid patient safe on a bedside monitor, work through patient case files, and sort the drugs. Nothing here is graded.

Part 1: Prostaglandin Bench

Pick a drug and watch where it lands. Arachidonic acid (the zigzag) is cut out of cell membranes and fed to two enzymes. COX-1 makes the housekeeping prostaglandins that protect the stomach, help platelets clump and keep blood flowing to the kidney. COX-2 makes the prostaglandins of an inflamed joint, pain and fever. Then move the clock to see which effects fade and which stay.

Arachidonic acid (zigzag) COX-1 (housekeeping) COX-2 (inflammation) Prostaglandins (wavy) Blocked or switched off