Absorption is the process by which a drug does what?

• A. Enters the bloodstream from the site of administration
• B. Travels from the bloodstream to tissues
• C. Is metabolized into a water-soluble compound
• D. Is excreted from the body

Answer: (A)

Absorption is the process by which a drug enters the bloodstream from the site of administration, allowing it to travel through the body to reach its target tissues. This first step determines how much of the dose actually reaches systemic circulation and how quickly the medicine begins to work. The rate and extent of absorption depend on factors like the route taken (oral, sublingual, topical, etc.), the drug’s solubility, the surface area exposed at the site, and the local blood flow. Once absorbed, the drug can then distribute to tissues, may be metabolized, and eventually be excreted. So absorption specifically describes entry into the bloodstream from where the drug is placed or applied, rather than movement into tissues (distribution), chemical changes in the body (metabolism), or removal from the body (excretion).