Medicine that is given in inhalant form is ___________.
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A
dissolved
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B
injected
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C
taken orally
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D
breathed in
Medicine administered in inhalant form is breathed in and enters the body through the respiratory tract, vaporized or aerosolized particles absorbed via pulmonary alveoli.
A) dissolved
Dissolution involves solute dispersion in solvent, chemical process unrelated to administration route. Inhalants may be dissolved in propellants pre-administration, but patient exposure occurs through breathing, not dissolution. This confuses preparation method with delivery mechanism.
B) injected
Injection forces substances directly into tissues/bloodstream, parenteral route bypassing respiratory system entirely. Inhalation and injection represent distinct administration pathways with different absorption kinetics and tissue targeting.
C) taken orally
Oral administration involves gastrointestinal absorption, swallowing substances for digestive tract processing. Inhalants bypass GI tract entirely, entering circulation directly through pulmonary capillaries, fundamentally different absorption pathways.
D) breathed in
Breathing in precisely describes inhalation's mechanism: drawing aerosolized/vaporized medication into lungs where alveolar absorption occurs. Whether metered-dose inhalers, nebulizers, or anesthetic gases, all inhalants share this common delivery pathway, making breathed in the unambiguous route descriptor.
Conclusion
Inhalant administration specifically denotes respiratory delivery, medication absorption through pulmonary tissues following breath-mediated intake. Unlike dissolution (preparation), injection (parenteral), or oral ingestion (GI), breathed in alone captures inhalation's essential mechanism: pulmonary uptake facilitated by voluntary or mechanical respiration.
Topic Flashcards
Click to FlipWhat is the medical term for a device that delivers medication in a fine mist to be inhaled?
A nebulizer.
What is another way to say a medicine is inhaled?
It is breathed in or respired.
What does aerosolized mean in medicine?
Converted into a fine spray or mist suitable for inhalation.
What is the oral route of administration?
Taken by mouth (swallowed).
What is the term for a drug injected directly into a muscle?
An intramuscular (IM) injection.