Which option is an example of parenteral administration?

• A. Oral tablet
• B. Rectal suppository
• C. IV injection
• D. Inhaled spray

Answer: (C)

Parenteral administration means delivering a drug by routes that bypass the gastrointestinal tract, most commonly by injection. An IV injection fits this because it places medication directly into the bloodstream, giving rapid and complete systemic exposure without going through the digestive system.

Oral tablets must travel through the mouth to the stomach and intestines before absorption, so they are not parenteral. Rectal suppositories enter via the rectal mucosa and are still routed through the GI tract, so they’re generally considered enteral. An inhaled spray delivers medication to the lungs; while it bypasses the GI tract, it’s not an injection, so it’s not classified as parenteral.