pharmacokinetics The movement of foreign substances, particularly drugs, throughout the body of an animal. Processes that influence the pharmacokinetics of a compound include uptake, distribution throughout the body tissues, the length of time the compound remains in the body, and its rate of clearance (e.g. by metabolism or excretion).

pharmacokinetics (farm-ă-koh-ki-net-iks) n. the study of how drugs are handled within the body, including their absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion.