PHARMACOKINETICS & PHARMACODYNAMICS:
KEY CONCEPTS FOR NURSING |MEDSERG EXAM 2 |
GUARANTEED SUCCESS STARTS HERE! LEARN,
PRACTICE & EXCEL!
What are the four processes of pharmacokinetics represented by the acronym ADME?
Answer: Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion.
What is the process of absorption in pharmacokinetics? Answer: The process of moving
the medication into systemic circulation.
What factors affect the absorption of medications? Answer: Route of administration,
medication form, and methods of absorption (passive diffusion, active diffusion, facilitated
diffusion).
Which route of administration results in the largest amount of medication absorbed?
Answer: Intravenous (IV) administration.
Where are most oral medications absorbed in the body? Answer: In the small intestines.
What is distribution in pharmacokinetics? Answer: The process by which medication
passes through extracellular fluid and is distributed via blood vessels and lymphatic
system to the site of action.
What factors influence the distribution of medications? Answer: Medication's chemical
properties and the physiological status of the client.
APPHIA – Crafted with Care and Precision for Academic Excellence.
1
, What is metabolism in the context of pharmacokinetics? Answer: The process by which
medications are chemically altered in the body, primarily occurring in the liver.
What is first-pass metabolism? Answer: A process where some drugs are metabolized
earlier in the pharmacokinetic process, often in the liver before reaching systemic
circulation.
What is excretion in pharmacokinetics? Answer: The removal of medication from the body,
primarily through the kidneys.
What is clearance in pharmacokinetics? Answer: The amount of medication removed from
the body during excretion.
Which medications are most often excreted by the kidneys? Answer: Hydrophilic
medications.
How does chronic renal failure affect medication excretion? Answer: Clients with chronic
renal failure may have trouble excreting medications and require dosage adjustments.
What is hepatic excretion? Answer: The removal of medications indirectly via bile, then
excreted by the gastrointestinal tract.
What can lead to delays in medication excretion? Answer: Diseases of the liver,
gallbladder, or biliary tract.
What is the therapeutic effect of medication? Answer: The intended effect of the
medication experienced by the client without adverse effects or toxicity.
What does half-life refer to in pharmacokinetics? Answer: The amount of time required for
the client's plasma concentration to reach 50% of the initial dose of medication.
APPHIA – Crafted with Care and Precision for Academic Excellence.
2
KEY CONCEPTS FOR NURSING |MEDSERG EXAM 2 |
GUARANTEED SUCCESS STARTS HERE! LEARN,
PRACTICE & EXCEL!
What are the four processes of pharmacokinetics represented by the acronym ADME?
Answer: Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion.
What is the process of absorption in pharmacokinetics? Answer: The process of moving
the medication into systemic circulation.
What factors affect the absorption of medications? Answer: Route of administration,
medication form, and methods of absorption (passive diffusion, active diffusion, facilitated
diffusion).
Which route of administration results in the largest amount of medication absorbed?
Answer: Intravenous (IV) administration.
Where are most oral medications absorbed in the body? Answer: In the small intestines.
What is distribution in pharmacokinetics? Answer: The process by which medication
passes through extracellular fluid and is distributed via blood vessels and lymphatic
system to the site of action.
What factors influence the distribution of medications? Answer: Medication's chemical
properties and the physiological status of the client.
APPHIA – Crafted with Care and Precision for Academic Excellence.
1
, What is metabolism in the context of pharmacokinetics? Answer: The process by which
medications are chemically altered in the body, primarily occurring in the liver.
What is first-pass metabolism? Answer: A process where some drugs are metabolized
earlier in the pharmacokinetic process, often in the liver before reaching systemic
circulation.
What is excretion in pharmacokinetics? Answer: The removal of medication from the body,
primarily through the kidneys.
What is clearance in pharmacokinetics? Answer: The amount of medication removed from
the body during excretion.
Which medications are most often excreted by the kidneys? Answer: Hydrophilic
medications.
How does chronic renal failure affect medication excretion? Answer: Clients with chronic
renal failure may have trouble excreting medications and require dosage adjustments.
What is hepatic excretion? Answer: The removal of medications indirectly via bile, then
excreted by the gastrointestinal tract.
What can lead to delays in medication excretion? Answer: Diseases of the liver,
gallbladder, or biliary tract.
What is the therapeutic effect of medication? Answer: The intended effect of the
medication experienced by the client without adverse effects or toxicity.
What does half-life refer to in pharmacokinetics? Answer: The amount of time required for
the client's plasma concentration to reach 50% of the initial dose of medication.
APPHIA – Crafted with Care and Precision for Academic Excellence.
2
