|
Medical Definition of Beta-adrenergic receptors
1. Adrenergic receptor's in effector tissues capable of selective activation and blockade by drugs; conceptually derived from the ability of certain agents, such as propranolol, to block only some adrenergic receptor's and of other agents, such as isoproterenol, to activate only the same adrenergic receptor's. Such receptor's are designated as beta-receptors. Their activation results in physiological responses such as increases in cardiac rate and force of contraction (b1), and relaxation of bronchial and vascular smooth muscle (b2). (05 Mar 2000)