Disintegration refers to which process?

• A. The process of forming a solution from a drug
• B. Elimination of the drug from the body
• C. Movement from the GI tract into the bloodstream
• D. Breakdown of oral drug into smaller particles

Answer: (D)

Disintegration is the physical breakup of a solid dosage form into smaller particles. This step is what prepares the drug for dissolution, allowing the active substance to dissolve in GI fluids and become available for absorption. The other processes describe what happens after disintegration: dissolution is forming a solution from the solid drug, absorption is movement of the drug into the bloodstream from the GI tract, and elimination is removal from the body. So disintegration is the initial breakdown that enables the subsequent steps leading to drug bioavailability.