2024 PN NCLEX Questions Nursing Practice Question
Distribution of a drug to various tissues is dependent on the amount of cardiac output to each type of tissue. Which tissue would receive the highest amount of cardiac output and thus the highest amount of a drug?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Cardiac output is primarily directed to tissues with high metabolic demands. The myocardium, or heart muscle, requires a continuous and substantial blood supply to sustain its function, making it the tissue that receives the highest cardiac output.
Skin (A) receives a lower proportion of blood flow, mainly for thermoregulation. Adipose tissue (B) has a lower metabolic rate and thus receives less blood compared to more active tissues. Skeletal muscle (C) does receive significant blood flow, especially during exercise, but it does not surpass the myocardium's constant demand for oxygen and nutrients. Therefore, the myocardium is the tissue that receives the most drug distribution due to its critical and continuous need for blood supply.