Pharmacology Proctored ATI Practice Exam 2026 – Comprehensive Test Prep

The correct answer is centered around the established concepts of pharmacokinetics, which is the study of how drugs move through the body over time. The four phases are absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion.

Understanding these phases helps in comprehending the overall behavior of drugs in the body:

- **Absorption** refers to the process by which a drug enters the bloodstream after administration. This phase is crucial because it determines how much drug reaches systemic circulation and is available to exert its therapeutic effect.

- **Distribution** involves the dispersion of the drug throughout the body's fluids and tissues. Factors such as blood flow, tissue affinity, and protein binding influence this phase, ultimately affecting how much drug reaches its target site.

- **Metabolism**, also known as biotransformation, is the body's way of chemically altering the drug, often to prepare it for excretion. The liver plays a central role in this phase, converting lipophilic compounds into more water-soluble forms.

- **Excretion** is the final phase, where the drug or its metabolites are eliminated from the body, primarily through the kidneys but also via bile, sweat, saliva, and other bodily fluids. This phase is vital in determining the duration of the drug's action and