Area Under Curve (also known as Area Under Curves, Curve, Area Under): A statistical means of summarizing information from a series of measurements on one individual. It is frequently used in clinical pharmacology where the AUC from serum levels can be interpreted as the total uptake of whatever has been administered.

NIH MeSH · D019540Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment

Area Under Curve

Also known asArea Under Curves · Curve, Area Under · Curves, Area Under · Under Curve, Area · Under Curves, Area · AUC

Definition

A statistical means of summarizing information from a series of measurements on one individual. It is frequently used in clinical pharmacology where the AUC from serum levels can be interpreted as the total uptake of whatever has been administered. As a plot of the concentration of a drug against time, after a single dose of medicine, producing a standard shape curve, it is a means of comparing the bioavailability of the same drug made by different companies. (From Winslade, Dictionary of Clinical Research, 1992)

MeSH classification

  • E05.318.740.200
  • G03.787.101
  • G07.690.725.064
  • N06.850.520.830.200

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Common questions about Area Under Curve

What does Area Under Curve mean in medicine?
A statistical means of summarizing information from a series of measurements on one individual. It is frequently used in clinical pharmacology where the AUC from serum levels can be interpreted as the total uptake of whatever has been administered. As a plot of the concentration of a drug against time, after a single dose of medicine, producing a standard shape curve, it is a means of comparing the bioavailability of the same drug made by different companies. (From Winslade, Dictionary of Clinical Research, 1992) This definition is taken from the National Library of Medicine's MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) 2026 release, which is the standard vocabulary used to index PubMed and most medical literature.
Is Area Under Curve known by any other names?
Yes. Area Under Curve is also referred to as Area Under Curves, Curve, Area Under, Curves, Area Under, Under Curve, Area in different clinical, research and patient-facing contexts. The MeSH descriptor groups all of these synonyms under a single canonical concept so research and records stay consistent.
Where does Area Under Curve sit in the medical classification?
Area Under Curve falls under the broader medical category "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment" in the MeSH hierarchy (tree numbers: E05.318.740.200, G03.787.101, G07.690.725.064). Browsing the related concepts on this page takes you to neighbouring topics in the same branch of medicine.
Where can I get a plain-language explanation of Area Under Curve?
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Source: NIH MeSH 2026 (D019540) — National Library of Medicine, public domain. View official MeSH record ↗