Final answer:
The elimination of drugs from the body involves the urinary system through glomerular filtration, tubular secretion, and tubular reabsorption, with the liver playing a key role in detoxifying and metabolizing substances for excretion.
Step-by-step explanation:
The processes that contribute to the elimination of drugs and hormones from the body primarily occur through the urinary system. Key biological processes involved in this elimination are glomerular filtration, tubular secretion, and tubular reabsorption. Small, water-soluble drugs get filtered through the glomerulus and are excreted in the urine. However, large molecules like heparin, or those bound to plasma proteins, are not easily removed as they cannot be filtered. Drugs may also be eliminated via carrier proteins that secrete drugs into the tubule lumen. Detoxification primarily occurs in the liver, where harmful substances are metabolized through reactions like oxidation and conjugation, transforming them into less harmful compounds that can be excreted. Additionally, a drug's half-life affects how quickly it is removed from the plasma, influencing the dosage and frequency of administration required to maintain therapeutic levels without becoming toxic.