anaesthetic

anaesthetic.

See anesthetic.

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anaesthetic 

Any substance used to produce a loss of pain sensation either in the whole of the body when unconscious (general anaesthetic) or to some part of the body when awake (local anaesthetic). Note: also spelt anesthetic.
local anaesthetic's Chemical agents that prevent the transmission of nerve impulses by binding to the sodium channel and thus blocking the transient rush of sodium ions through the cell membrane. They act locally and without loss of consciousness. They can be either ester-linked (e.g. benoxinate, cocaine, oxybuprocaine hydrochloride (benoxinate), proxymetacaine hydrochloride, and tetracaine hydrochloride) or amide-linked (e.g. bupivacaine, lidocaine hydrochloride and procaine). Ester types are applied mainly topically whereas amide types are usually administered by injection. See peribulbar injection; receptor potential.