Common divisions of pharmacology include ...

• A. Autonomic pharmacology, CNS pharmacology, cardiovascular pharmacology, immunopharmacology, molecular pharmacology, and biochemical pharmacology
• B. Immunopharmacology
• C. Pharmacology of diseases only
• D. Pharmacology related to diseases and infections

Answer: (A)

Dividing pharmacology by the system or level at which drugs act gives a broad, practical way to organize how medications work. This question reflects that approach: there are multiple common subdivisions that span different body systems and levels of analysis.

Autonomic pharmacology looks at drugs that modify the autonomic nervous system, affecting things like heart rate, blood pressure, and glandular activity. CNS pharmacology focuses on drugs that influence the brain and spinal cord, including effects on mood, consciousness, and perception. Cardiovascular pharmacology covers medications that impact the heart and blood vessels, such as those controlling rhythm, contractility, and blood flow. Immunopharmacology studies how drugs modulate the immune system, including immune responses and inflammation. Molecular pharmacology examines interactions at the molecular level, such as receptor binding and signaling pathways, while biochemical pharmacology deals with how drugs influence biochemical processes and metabolism.

This combination is broad and representative of how pharmacology is taught as multiple domains, not limited to a single disease area. The other options are too narrow—immunopharmacology alone is just one subfield, while “pharmacology of diseases only” or “pharmacology related to diseases and infections” both miss the large, system-wide divisions that help organize drug action across the body.