lOMoAR cPSD| 6861666
WGU D118 Unit 2-8 | Fully Updated Questions and Correct
Answers with Verified Rationale | New Update 2026/2027 |
Graded A+
Unit 2: Integrating Principles of Pharmacology
Unit 3: Analyzing Neuropharmacology
Unit 4: Pharmacology for Cardiovascular Diseases and
Disorders
Unit 5: Synthesizing Pharmacological Considerations in
Transitions of Care
Unit 6: Synthesizing Pharmacological Considerations in
Wellness, Nutrition, Women’s Health, and Men’s Health
Unit 7: Analyzing Pharmacology of Gastrointestinal
System, Endocrine System, and Obesity
Unit 8: Analyzing Pharmacology for Infectious Diseases,
Allergies, and Musculoskeletal Disorders
, lOMoAR cPSD| 6861666
D118 Unit 2: Integrating Principles of Pharmacology
Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics, and Medication Interactions:
Pharmacokinetics - What your body does to a drug (ADME)
Absorption – the drug’s ability to pass through
barriers such as the intestinal lining, the lungs, or
the skin.
Distribution – how the drug is distributed around
the body and its propensity to accumulate in
certain tissues or organs.
Metabolism – how the body breaks down the
drug, normally by the liver. The key issues are
drug-to-drug interactions, and the effects of the
metabolites (the new chemicals created as a
result of metabolism).
Elimination – the rate and process through which
the drug exits the body.
Properties of Major Routes of Drug Administration
Route Barriers to Barriers to Advantages Disadvantages
Absorption Absorption
Parenteral
, lOMoAR cPSD| 6861666
Intravenous None Instantaneous Rapid onset, and Irreversible
(IV) (absorption is hence ideal for
bypassed) emergencies Expensive
Precise control over Inconvenient
drug levels
Difficult to do, and
Permits use of large hence poorly suited
fluid volumes for self-administration
Permits use of irritant Risk for fluid overload,
drugs infection, and
embolism
Drug must be water
soluble
Intramuscular Capillary wall Rapid with Permits use of poorly Permits use of poorly
(IM) (easy to pass) water-soluble soluble drugs soluble drugs
drugs
Permits use of depot Permits use of depot
Slow with preparations preparations
poorly soluble
drugs
Subcutaneous Same as IM Same as IM Same as IM Same as IM
(subQ)
Enteral
Oral (PO) Epithelial lining Slow and Easy Variability
of variable
gastrointestinal Convenient Inactivation of some
tract; capillary drugs by gastric acid
wall Inexpensive and digestive enzymes
Ideal for Possible nausea and
selfmedication vomiting from local
irritation
Potentially reversible,
and hence safer than Patient must be
parenteral routes conscious and
cooperative.
, lOMoAR cPSD| 6861666
Drug Movement at Typical Capillary Beds. In most capillary beds, “large” gaps exist between the cells
that compose the capillary wall. Drugs and other molecules can pass freely into and out of the
bloodstream through these gaps. As illustrated, lipid-soluble compounds can also pass directly through
the cells of the capillary wall.
The BBB - Drug Movement Across the Blood-Brain Barrier. Tight junctions between cells that compose
the walls of capillaries in the central nervous system prevent drugs from passing between cells to exit
the vascular system. Consequently, to reach sites of action within the brain, a drug must pass directly
through cells of the capillary wall. To do this, the drug must be lipid soluble or be able to use an existing
transport system.
WGU D118 Unit 2-8 | Fully Updated Questions and Correct
Answers with Verified Rationale | New Update 2026/2027 |
Graded A+
Unit 2: Integrating Principles of Pharmacology
Unit 3: Analyzing Neuropharmacology
Unit 4: Pharmacology for Cardiovascular Diseases and
Disorders
Unit 5: Synthesizing Pharmacological Considerations in
Transitions of Care
Unit 6: Synthesizing Pharmacological Considerations in
Wellness, Nutrition, Women’s Health, and Men’s Health
Unit 7: Analyzing Pharmacology of Gastrointestinal
System, Endocrine System, and Obesity
Unit 8: Analyzing Pharmacology for Infectious Diseases,
Allergies, and Musculoskeletal Disorders
, lOMoAR cPSD| 6861666
D118 Unit 2: Integrating Principles of Pharmacology
Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics, and Medication Interactions:
Pharmacokinetics - What your body does to a drug (ADME)
Absorption – the drug’s ability to pass through
barriers such as the intestinal lining, the lungs, or
the skin.
Distribution – how the drug is distributed around
the body and its propensity to accumulate in
certain tissues or organs.
Metabolism – how the body breaks down the
drug, normally by the liver. The key issues are
drug-to-drug interactions, and the effects of the
metabolites (the new chemicals created as a
result of metabolism).
Elimination – the rate and process through which
the drug exits the body.
Properties of Major Routes of Drug Administration
Route Barriers to Barriers to Advantages Disadvantages
Absorption Absorption
Parenteral
, lOMoAR cPSD| 6861666
Intravenous None Instantaneous Rapid onset, and Irreversible
(IV) (absorption is hence ideal for
bypassed) emergencies Expensive
Precise control over Inconvenient
drug levels
Difficult to do, and
Permits use of large hence poorly suited
fluid volumes for self-administration
Permits use of irritant Risk for fluid overload,
drugs infection, and
embolism
Drug must be water
soluble
Intramuscular Capillary wall Rapid with Permits use of poorly Permits use of poorly
(IM) (easy to pass) water-soluble soluble drugs soluble drugs
drugs
Permits use of depot Permits use of depot
Slow with preparations preparations
poorly soluble
drugs
Subcutaneous Same as IM Same as IM Same as IM Same as IM
(subQ)
Enteral
Oral (PO) Epithelial lining Slow and Easy Variability
of variable
gastrointestinal Convenient Inactivation of some
tract; capillary drugs by gastric acid
wall Inexpensive and digestive enzymes
Ideal for Possible nausea and
selfmedication vomiting from local
irritation
Potentially reversible,
and hence safer than Patient must be
parenteral routes conscious and
cooperative.
, lOMoAR cPSD| 6861666
Drug Movement at Typical Capillary Beds. In most capillary beds, “large” gaps exist between the cells
that compose the capillary wall. Drugs and other molecules can pass freely into and out of the
bloodstream through these gaps. As illustrated, lipid-soluble compounds can also pass directly through
the cells of the capillary wall.
The BBB - Drug Movement Across the Blood-Brain Barrier. Tight junctions between cells that compose
the walls of capillaries in the central nervous system prevent drugs from passing between cells to exit
the vascular system. Consequently, to reach sites of action within the brain, a drug must pass directly
through cells of the capillary wall. To do this, the drug must be lipid soluble or be able to use an existing
transport system.
