Administered without passing through the digestive tract describes which category?

• A. Enteral medications
• B. Parenteral medications
• C. Oral medications
• D. Off-line medical control

Answer: (B)

Parenteral administration means delivering a drug by routes that bypass the digestive tract. This category includes injections such as intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous, and intraosseous administration, which put the drug directly into the bloodstream or tissues. Because the GI tract is not involved, these drugs avoid first-pass metabolism by the liver, often giving a faster and more predictable onset of action.

In contrast, enteral medications are those taken through the digestive system, like oral pills or liquids that must be absorbed in the GI tract. Since this question’s phrase describes administration that does not pass through the digestive tract, the correct category is parenteral.