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Enterohepatic Circulation

Meaning

Enterohepatic Circulation is a physiological pathway describing the movement of certain substances from the liver, through the bile duct into the small intestine, and then back to the liver via the portal vein. This cyclical process is crucial for the efficient recycling of bile acids and plays a significant role in the pharmacokinetics and elimination of various endogenous compounds, including hormones and xenobiotics. The efficiency of this circulation directly influences the duration of a substance’s biological effect and its overall systemic exposure.