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Volume of Distribution

Human Body Model

Vd determines the distribution of drugs between the blood and the rest of the body.

The same equation that you have developed holds.

Ab = Vd x Cp

Drag the slider to increase the Vd, and observe how drugs with a large Vd concentrate in tissues outside the blood stream. Drugs with small Vd stay mainly in the central compartment.

Drug concentrated in bloodstream

Drug in blood and extracellular space

Drug equally distributed in blood and tissues

Drug moderately concentrated in tissues

Drug highly concentrated in tissues (usually adipose)

Amount in body =
Vd x plasma concentration

Ab = Vd x Cp

Vd = Ab / Cp

5 L 10,000 L