Pharmacokinetics

Pharmacokinetics studies how a drug is absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and excreted by the body over time, shaping its concentrations in tissues and blood.

Absorption (pharmacology): The movement of a drug from its administration site into systemic circulation. It determines how quickly and how much of an administered dose reaches the bloodstream.
Pharmacokinetic compartment: A conceptual space used to model drug concentrations and exchange within the body. Compartment models simplify complex distribution into analyzable concentration patterns.
Therapeutic drug monitoring: The measurement of drug concentrations in biological samples to guide treatment. Measured levels can reveal whether exposure falls within a useful range.
Pharmacodynamics: The study of how drugs affect biological systems, including their mechanisms and effects. It focuses on drug effects, whereas pharmacokinetics describes the body's handling of drugs.
Drug distribution: The reversible movement of a drug between blood and body tissues. Tissue access and binding shape concentrations beyond the bloodstream.
Volume of distribution: A proportionality constant relating the amount of drug in the body to its plasma concentration. It indicates the apparent extent of drug distribution outside plasma.
Pharmacokinetic–pharmacodynamic modeling: Modeling that links drug concentration over time to its effects. It connects pharmacokinetic exposure with therapeutic and adverse responses.
Pharmacology: The science of drugs, including their properties, actions, uses, and effects in living systems. Pharmacokinetics is one major branch within this broader science.
Drug excretion: The removal of drugs and metabolites from the body, commonly through urine or bile. Excretion helps determine how long drug concentrations persist.
Clearance (pharmacology): The volume of plasma from which a drug is completely removed per unit time. Clearance links drug elimination to the concentrations maintained during dosing.

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