Final answer:
CK, or creatine kinase, is measured in both small and large animals to assess muscle health and functionality, including diagnosis of muscle and heart conditions. CK measurement is important in pharmacokinetic studies across different animal species to understand drug dynamics.
Step-by-step explanation:
CK, or creatine kinase, is an enzyme that can be measured in both small and large animals. It is used to assess the health and functional status of muscle tissue, including the heart. In veterinary medicine, CK levels are often measured in a variety of animals to diagnose conditions that affect skeletal muscle, such as injury or muscle wasting diseases, or to assess myocardial damage in heart disease.
In clinical trials and pharmacokinetic studies, measurement of various biomarkers, including CK, can be important. Rodents, like mice and rats, are frequently used in initial pharmacokinetic studies to understand the drug absorption, distribution, clearance, and exposure due to their lower costs and smaller size. However, the principles of measuring these biomarkers, like CK, apply to both small and large animal species.