Which type of agonist has an effect but not to the full extent of the receptor's capability?

A partial agonist is a compound that binds to a receptor and activates it, but does so with less efficacy than a full agonist. This means that while partial agonists can stimulate a receptor and produce a response, the effect they induce is not as strong as that produced by full agonists.

The concept behind partial agonists is that they can be useful in situations where a full agonist might overstimulate a receptor and cause undesirable effects. By only partially activating the receptor, these agonists can help to moderate physiological responses. This characteristic makes them particularly valuable in clinical situations where balanced responses are desired, such as in the management of certain mental health disorders or analgesia, where reducing the effects of harmful high receptor activity is beneficial.

In contrast, full agonists bind to their respective receptors and activate them to their maximum capability, leading to a full therapeutic effect. Antagonists, on the other hand, bind to receptors but do not activate them and thus block the receptor’s action. Inverse agonists also bind to receptors but produce an effect opposite to that of the agonist by stabilizing the receptors in an inactive form.