Which area of study examines how medications impact bodily functions?

Pharmacodynamics is the area of study that specifically focuses on how medications affect bodily functions. It examines the interaction between medications and their target organs, tissues, or cells, exploring the various biochemical and physiological processes that occur as a result of these interactions. This includes understanding mechanisms of action, therapeutic effects, and possible side effects of drugs.

In contrast, pharmacokinetics involves the study of how the body absorbs, distributes, metabolizes, and excretes medications, emphasizing the drug's journey through the body rather than its effects. Pharmacogenomics looks at how a person's genetic makeup influences their response to drugs, which can affect medication efficacy and safety. Pharmacy practice encompasses the broader field that includes various roles and responsibilities of pharmacists, such as dispensing medications and counseling patients but does not specifically focus on the effects of medications on bodily functions. Hence, pharmacodynamics is correctly identified as the study area that examines how medications impact the functions of the body.