Definition

A type of medication that blocks certain receptors in the body, often used to help diagnose and treat a specific type of tumor that affects blood pressure.

Example

The doctor prescribed phentolamine to help manage the patient's high blood pressure caused by a tumor.

Conversation

Hey, have you heard about phentolamine?

Yeah, isn't it used for treating certain types of high blood pressure?

Exactly! It's especially helpful in diagnosing pheochromocytoma.

Right, I read that it can block those adrenergic receptors.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Phentolamine is formed from "phenyl" (from Greek "phaino", meaning to show or appear) and "tolamine" (derived from "toluidine", which is a compound related to aniline, a type of amine). The word refers to a compound that shows properties related to phenyl and amine structures, specifically used in medical contexts as a non-selective alpha-adrenergic antagonist.

Memory Tip

Think of 'phenyl' as something that 'shows' or 'appears' and 'tolamine' as a type of amine. This helps you remember that phentolamine is a compound related to these chemical structures.

Visually Confused Words