In the two-compartment model, which tissues comprise the peripheral compartment?

In the two-compartment model, which tissues comprise the peripheral compartment?

• A. The vessel-rich organs
• B. The central nervous system
• C. The liver and kidneys
• D. Skeletal muscles, fat, and skin

Answer: (D)

In the two-compartment model, the body is divided into a central compartment (plasma and highly perfused organs) and a peripheral compartment (tissues that equilibrate more slowly with plasma). The central compartment includes the brain (CNS) and other vessel-rich organs like liver and kidneys because they receive lots of blood flow and exchange rapidly with the blood. The peripheral compartment consists of tissues with lower perfusion that take up and release drug more slowly, specifically skeletal muscles, fat, and skin. This slower distribution to the peripheral tissues explains why these tissues act as a reservoir that redistributes drug back to the central compartment as plasma levels fall.

In the two-compartment model, the body is divided into a central compartment (plasma and highly perfused organs) and a peripheral compartment (tissues that equilibrate more slowly with plasma). The central compartment includes the brain (CNS) and other vessel-rich organs like liver and kidneys because they receive lots of blood flow and exchange rapidly with the blood. The peripheral compartment consists of tissues with lower perfusion that take up and release drug more slowly, specifically skeletal muscles, fat, and skin. This slower distribution to the peripheral tissues explains why these tissues act as a reservoir that redistributes drug back to the central compartment as plasma levels fall.