Disintegration is the process by which a solid dosage form breaks apart to become available for absorption, and it must occur before which process?

Disintegration is the process by which a solid dosage form breaks apart to become available for absorption, and it must occur before which process?

• A. Absorption
• B. Dissolution
• C. Metabolism
• D. Excretion

Answer: (B)

Disintegration is the step that turns a solid dosage form into smaller pieces so the drug becomes available for further processing. It must occur before dissolution because dissolution—the drug dissolving into a solution—depends on having the solid broken apart into smaller fragments with enough surface area. Without disintegration, the intact tablet or capsule cannot effectively dissolve, so dissolution cannot proceed to release the drug for absorption. From there, absorption occurs when the dissolved drug passes into the bloodstream. Metabolism and excretion happen after absorption. So the process that must come after disintegration is dissolution.

Disintegration is the step that turns a solid dosage form into smaller pieces so the drug becomes available for further processing. It must occur before dissolution because dissolution—the drug dissolving into a solution—depends on having the solid broken apart into smaller fragments with enough surface area. Without disintegration, the intact tablet or capsule cannot effectively dissolve, so dissolution cannot proceed to release the drug for absorption.

From there, absorption occurs when the dissolved drug passes into the bloodstream. Metabolism and excretion happen after absorption. So the process that must come after disintegration is dissolution.