ATI Pharm 1
Pharmacokinetics and Routes of
Administration / 130 Questions & detailed
Answers / 2025/2026
QUESTION ANSWER
What are the phases of pharmacokinetics?
1) Absorption, 2) Distribution, 3) Metabolism, 4) Excretion
(hint: 4)
Transmission of medications from location of administration
What is medication absorption?
to bloodstream
1) Oral, 2) Sublingual/buccal, 3) Other mucous membranes
What are the different types of
(rectal, vaginal), 4) Inhalation via mouth/nose, 5) Intradermal,
absorption? (hint: 7)
topical, 6) Subcutaneous/intramuscular, 7) Intravenous
Medications must pass thru layer of epithelial cells that line
Name the barriers to oral absorption.
GI tract
1) stability and solubility of medication, 2) GI pH and
What can affect oral absorption pattern? emptying time, 3) presence of food in stomach and
(hint: 5) intestines, 4) other concurrent medications, 5) forms of
medications (enteric-coated pills, liquids)
Name the barriers to sublingual/buccal Swallowing before dissolution allows gastric pH to
absorption. inactivate the medication.
Absorption pattern of sublingual/buccal Quick absorption systemically thru highly vascular mucous
administration. membranes
Name the barriers to other mucous Presence of stool in rectum or infectious material in vagina
membrane (rectal, vaginal) absorption. limits tissue contact.
Absorption pattern of other mucous
Easy absorption with both local and systemic effects
membrane (rectal, vaginal) administration.
Name the barriers to inhalation via
Inspiratory effort
mouth/nose absorption.
, Absorption pattern of inhalation via
Rapid absorption thru alveolar capillary networks
mouth/nose administration.
Name the barriers to intradermal/topical
Close proximity of epidermal cells.
absorption.
1) Slow, gradual absorption, 2) Effects primarily local, but
Absorption pattern of intradermal/topical
systemic as well, especially with lipid-soluble medications
administration. (hint: 2)
passing thru subcutaneous fatty tissue
Name the barriers to Capillary walls have large spaces between cells creating no
subcutaneous/intramuscular absorption. significant barrier.
1) Solubility of medication in water (highly soluble=rapid
Absorption pattern of
absorption 10-30 min) (poorly soluble=slow absorption), 2)
subcutaneous/intramuscular
Blood perfusion at site of injection (high perfusion=rapid
administration. (hint: 2)
absorption) (low perfusion=slow absorption)
Name the barriers to intravenous
No barriers
absorption. (hint: bit of a trick question)
Absorption pattern of intravenous 1) Immediate: enters directly into blood, 2) Complete:
administration. (hint: 2) reaches blood in its entirety
Distribution is transportation of medications to sites of
What is medication distribution?
action by bodily fluids.
What are the 3 factors influencing 1) Circulation, 2) Permeability of cell membrane, 3) Plasma
distribution? protein binding
Conditions that inhibit blood flow or perfusion, such as
How does circulation affect distribution? peripheral vascular or cardiac disease, can delay medication
distribution
Medication must pass thru tissues and membranes to reach
How does permeability of cell membranes
target area. Medications that are lipid-soluble or have
affect distribution?
transport system can cross blood-brain barrier and placenta
Medications compete for protein binding sites within
bloodstream, often albumin. Ability of medication to bind to
How does plasma protein binding affect
protein affects how much medication leaves and travels to
distribution?
target tissues. Toxicity results when two medications
compete for same binding site
What is another name for metabolism? Biotransformation
What is medication metabolism and where Metabolism changes medications into less active or inactive
Pharmacokinetics and Routes of
Administration / 130 Questions & detailed
Answers / 2025/2026
QUESTION ANSWER
What are the phases of pharmacokinetics?
1) Absorption, 2) Distribution, 3) Metabolism, 4) Excretion
(hint: 4)
Transmission of medications from location of administration
What is medication absorption?
to bloodstream
1) Oral, 2) Sublingual/buccal, 3) Other mucous membranes
What are the different types of
(rectal, vaginal), 4) Inhalation via mouth/nose, 5) Intradermal,
absorption? (hint: 7)
topical, 6) Subcutaneous/intramuscular, 7) Intravenous
Medications must pass thru layer of epithelial cells that line
Name the barriers to oral absorption.
GI tract
1) stability and solubility of medication, 2) GI pH and
What can affect oral absorption pattern? emptying time, 3) presence of food in stomach and
(hint: 5) intestines, 4) other concurrent medications, 5) forms of
medications (enteric-coated pills, liquids)
Name the barriers to sublingual/buccal Swallowing before dissolution allows gastric pH to
absorption. inactivate the medication.
Absorption pattern of sublingual/buccal Quick absorption systemically thru highly vascular mucous
administration. membranes
Name the barriers to other mucous Presence of stool in rectum or infectious material in vagina
membrane (rectal, vaginal) absorption. limits tissue contact.
Absorption pattern of other mucous
Easy absorption with both local and systemic effects
membrane (rectal, vaginal) administration.
Name the barriers to inhalation via
Inspiratory effort
mouth/nose absorption.
, Absorption pattern of inhalation via
Rapid absorption thru alveolar capillary networks
mouth/nose administration.
Name the barriers to intradermal/topical
Close proximity of epidermal cells.
absorption.
1) Slow, gradual absorption, 2) Effects primarily local, but
Absorption pattern of intradermal/topical
systemic as well, especially with lipid-soluble medications
administration. (hint: 2)
passing thru subcutaneous fatty tissue
Name the barriers to Capillary walls have large spaces between cells creating no
subcutaneous/intramuscular absorption. significant barrier.
1) Solubility of medication in water (highly soluble=rapid
Absorption pattern of
absorption 10-30 min) (poorly soluble=slow absorption), 2)
subcutaneous/intramuscular
Blood perfusion at site of injection (high perfusion=rapid
administration. (hint: 2)
absorption) (low perfusion=slow absorption)
Name the barriers to intravenous
No barriers
absorption. (hint: bit of a trick question)
Absorption pattern of intravenous 1) Immediate: enters directly into blood, 2) Complete:
administration. (hint: 2) reaches blood in its entirety
Distribution is transportation of medications to sites of
What is medication distribution?
action by bodily fluids.
What are the 3 factors influencing 1) Circulation, 2) Permeability of cell membrane, 3) Plasma
distribution? protein binding
Conditions that inhibit blood flow or perfusion, such as
How does circulation affect distribution? peripheral vascular or cardiac disease, can delay medication
distribution
Medication must pass thru tissues and membranes to reach
How does permeability of cell membranes
target area. Medications that are lipid-soluble or have
affect distribution?
transport system can cross blood-brain barrier and placenta
Medications compete for protein binding sites within
bloodstream, often albumin. Ability of medication to bind to
How does plasma protein binding affect
protein affects how much medication leaves and travels to
distribution?
target tissues. Toxicity results when two medications
compete for same binding site
What is another name for metabolism? Biotransformation
What is medication metabolism and where Metabolism changes medications into less active or inactive
