Parenteral administration refers to a route that does not involve the GI tract. Which is an example?

• A. Oral
• B. Inhalation
• C. Topical
• D. Intravenous

Answer: (D)

Parenteral administration means delivering a drug without using the gastrointestinal tract. The intravenous route fits this perfectly because the medication is injected directly into the bloodstream, bypassing the stomach and intestines entirely. This also avoids first-pass metabolism by the liver and provides rapid, controllable systemic effects, which is why IV is a classic example of a parenteral route.

Oral goes through the digestive system, with absorption that can be variable and subject to first-pass metabolism. Topical is applied to the skin for local effect, with limited systemic absorption. Inhalation delivers medicine through the lungs; while it bypasses the GI tract, many contexts classify parenteral routes as injections (IV, IM, SC), so IV clearly fits the parenteral category in this context.