Final answer:
The clearance of ibuprofen from the blood occurs primarily through the process of elimination/excretion, specifically involving glomerular filtration, tubular secretion, and possibly tubular reabsorption within the kidneys.
Step-by-step explanation:
Clearance of ibuprofen from the blood occurs primarily through the pharmacokinetic process of elimination/excretion. Ibuprofen, like many other drugs, is metabolized in the liver and subsequently excreted from the body. The elimination involves processes such as glomerular filtration, tubular secretion, and tubular reabsorption within the kidneys. Water-soluble drugs, after being metabolized to more water-soluble forms, may be excreted in the urine. The specific carriers in the kidneys help eliminate acidic drugs like ibuprofen into the tubule lumen, facilitating its excretion. These pharmacokinetic processes ensure that drugs such as ibuprofen do not accumulate to toxic levels in the body and are essential in maintaining homeostasis.