Which term describes the movement of alcohol from the gastrointestinal system to the circulatory system?

The term that describes the movement of alcohol from the gastrointestinal system to the circulatory system is absorption. This process occurs after alcohol is consumed and enters the stomach and intestines, where it is then absorbed into the bloodstream.

During absorption, alcohol is absorbed primarily through the walls of the stomach and the small intestine due to its small molecular size, which allows it to pass through cell membranes easily. Once in the bloodstream, alcohol can then be transported to various tissues and organs in the body. This process is crucial because it is what enables alcohol to begin exerting its effects on the central nervous system and the body as a whole.

The other terms—administration, distribution, and elimination—describe different processes in the pharmacokinetics of alcohol. Administration refers to the method by which a substance is introduced into the body, distribution pertains to how the substance moves within the body after absorption, and elimination describes how the body removes the substance, usually through metabolic processes and excretion. Each of these processes plays a role in the overall journey of alcohol through the body, but absorption specifically pertains to its initial entry into the circulatory system.