Which of the following is an example of a parenteral route?

• A. IV
• B. Oral
• C. NG tube
• D. Sublingual

Answer: (A)

Parenteral administration means delivering medication outside the gastrointestinal tract, typically by injection or infusion into tissues or directly into the bloodstream. The intravenous route directly puts the drug into the bloodstream, bypassing the GI tract entirely, which is why this is a parenteral method. This route gives rapid and controllable effects and is often used when a quick or precise response is needed.

By contrast, taking a drug by mouth or through a feeding tube sends it into the digestive system, where it must be absorbed and processed, so those are not parenteral routes. Sublingual administration uses the mouth’s mucous membranes for absorption but does not involve injection into tissue or the bloodstream, so it isn’t parenteral either.