Which of the following routes is considered parenteral?

• A. Oral
• B. Subcutaneous
• C. Rectal
• D. Inhalation

Answer: (B)

Parenteral administration means delivering a substance outside the gastrointestinal tract, bypassing digestion. The subcutaneous route fits this because a drug is injected into tissue under the skin and is absorbed into the bloodstream without going through the GI tract.

Oral uses the digestive system, so it’s not parenteral. Rectal administration, while it can bypass some stomach degradation, still involves the rectal mucosa and is generally considered enteral rather than parenteral. Inhalation delivers the drug through the respiratory tract, a lung/mucosal route, not parenteral.

So, the subcutaneous route is the parenteral option.