Which term is the study of drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination?

• A. Pharmacodynamics
• B. Absorption
• C. Pharmacokinetics
• D. Biotransformation

Answer: (C)

Understanding how a drug moves through and leaves the body is the focus here. This field, pharmacokinetics, covers the four key processes: absorption (how the drug enters the bloodstream), distribution (how it spreads to tissues), metabolism or biotransformation (how the body chemically alters the drug), and elimination (how it is excreted). Knowing pharmacokinetics helps predict drug concentrations over time and guides dosing and timing. Pharmacodynamics, by contrast, deals with what the drug does to the body—the effects and mechanisms at the target sites. Metabolism is only one part of the overall journey, and absorption is merely the entry step, not the full picture. Since the question asks about all four processes together, pharmacokinetics is the best term.