Qualified Medication Aides (QMA) Practice Exam

Which organ is primarily responsible for excreting most medications?

1. Heart

2. Liver

3. Kidneys

4. Intestines

The correct answer is: Kidneys

The kidneys are primarily responsible for the excretion of most medications. They filter the blood to remove waste products and excess substances, including drugs and their metabolites, which are then excreted in urine. This role is critical in maintaining the body’s homeostasis and ensuring that medications do not accumulate to toxic levels. The liver does play a significant role in the metabolism of drugs, breaking them down into more water-soluble compounds that can be excreted, but its primary function is not the excretion itself. Instead, it prepares substances for elimination. The heart and intestines have distinct roles in the circulatory and digestive systems, respectively, but they are not primarily involved in the excretion of medications. Understanding the specialized functions of these organs helps clarify their roles in pharmacokinetics, particularly how medications are processed and eliminated from the body.