Which statement best explains the first pass effect? Liver cells metabolize the medication after it reaches its target tissue, changing the medication into metabolites that will be removed from the body. Kidney cells excrete small portions of the medication after it is absorbed by the intestines, leaving a fraction of the dose to reach the bloodstream. Liver cells metabolize the medication after it is injected, leaving only a fraction of the dose of to reach the bloodstream. Liver cells metabolize the medication after it is absorbed by the intestines, leaving a fraction of the dose of to reach the bloodstream.