General treatment of mean residence time, clearance, and volume parameters in linear mammillary models with elimination from any compartment

A general treatment for mean residence time, clearance, and volume parameters in linear mammillary models which includes the possibility of first-order elimination from compartments other than the central compartment is presented. The interrelationship between noncompartmentally derived parameters and compartmentally derived pharmacokinetic microconstants is described. The concept of exit site dependent and exit site independent parameters is introduced in the development of these treatments. Explications of mean residence time in terms of elimination rate, amount eliminated, and amount in the body are presented together with demonstrations of their utility.