Physiological factors affecting oral absorption

Student Objectives for this Chapter

• Understand how membrane permeability affects oral absorption
• Understand how GI physiology affects oral absorption
• Understand how parameters of Fick's first law equation describe transport across membranes

Looking briefly at the overall picture of drug absorption, distribution, and elimination.

Figure 22.1.1 Diagram Representing Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism and Excretion

The ultimate goal is to have the drug reach the site of action in a concentration which produces a pharmacological effect. No matter how the drug is given (other than IV) it must pass through a number of biological membranes before it reaches the site of action.

We can start by looking at:-

• Membrane Physiology
  • Considering the structure of membranes
  • Transport processes
• Gastrointestinal physiology
  • Characteristics of gastrointestinal physiology
  • Gastric motility and emptying
  • Influence of food
  • Other factors

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Copyright 2001-3 David W. A. Bourne (david@boomer.org)