Glossary of Pharmacology 

AbsorPtion 

The process by which a drug moves from its site of administration to the systemic blood circulation.  

The majority of drugs (but not all) enter the systemic circulation before reaching their therapeutic target in order to mediate an effect. The rate and amount of drug absorbed into the systemic circulation is influenced by a variety of factors including physicochemical properties of the drug, surface area, blood flow and pH at the site of absorption, drug transporters and the formulation of the drug. The majority of orally administered drugs are mostly absorbed in the small intestine. 

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