What are the main organs responsible for drug clearance?

What are the main organs responsible for drug clearance?

• A. Kidneys and Lungs
• B. Brain and Spinal Cord
• C. Liver and Kidneys
• D. Spleen and Bone Marrow

Answer: (C)

Drug clearance is achieved mainly by two organs: the liver and the kidneys. The liver metabolizes drugs through enzymatic processes (phase I and II reactions), often making them more water-soluble and preparing them for excretion, sometimes sending metabolites into bile. The kidneys remove drugs primarily by glomerular filtration and active tubular secretion into urine, with reabsorption depending on the drug’s properties. Together, these organs account for most routes of elimination for many drugs, balancing metabolism and direct excretion. The other choices don’t serve as the primary clearance sites. The lungs do participate in eliminating some volatile agents via exhalation, but they are not the main route for most systemic drugs. The brain and spinal cord are not clearance organs, and the spleen and bone marrow do not serve as major pathways for drug elimination.

Drug clearance is achieved mainly by two organs: the liver and the kidneys. The liver metabolizes drugs through enzymatic processes (phase I and II reactions), often making them more water-soluble and preparing them for excretion, sometimes sending metabolites into bile. The kidneys remove drugs primarily by glomerular filtration and active tubular secretion into urine, with reabsorption depending on the drug’s properties. Together, these organs account for most routes of elimination for many drugs, balancing metabolism and direct excretion.

The other choices don’t serve as the primary clearance sites. The lungs do participate in eliminating some volatile agents via exhalation, but they are not the main route for most systemic drugs. The brain and spinal cord are not clearance organs, and the spleen and bone marrow do not serve as major pathways for drug elimination.