What aspects of chemistry do doctors use?

Question

What aspects of chemistry do doctors use?

Answer 1

An understanding of pH is needed to correctly interpret alkalotic or acidotic states.

An understanding of ionization is needed to understand how certain drugs work, how they are carried in the bloodstream and what can increase or decrease their availability.

An understanding of osmosis is needed to comprehend how water moves over various body membranes in hydration, or is kept in or leaks out of certain body compartments through gradients and oncotic pressure.

An understanding of molecular structure is needed to see how certain channels work, how different drugs or different forms of drugs work, how signalling mechanisms operate, and how chemicals changes take place in biological pathways--everything from energy production to how dietary elements are broken down and used to how the body deals with building new molecules and eliminating waste products.

I could go on--that's just what I'm coming up with off the top of my head.  There is a lot of chemistry knowledge behind what doctors do.  I suppose you could just memorize many of these kinds of things without really understanding the concepts behind them, but generally that isn't what you want from a doctor.

Answer 2

well im a pharmacy student, and though i think the 6 or so chemistry classes i had to take were a waste of time- pharmacists use chem everyday ( indirectly) in determining drug interactions, allergic reactions etc based on chemical structure/compound..