What are the common routes of medication administration?

The correct response identifies the most commonly used routes for medication administration: oral, intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous, and topical.

Oral administration is the most frequent method, where medications are taken by mouth and absorbed through the digestive system. Intravenous administration involves delivering medication directly into the bloodstream, which allows for rapid action, making it essential in emergencies. Intramuscular injections deliver medication deep into the muscles, providing a quick absorption rate, while subcutaneous injections are given into the tissue layer between the skin and muscle, allowing for slower absorption. Topical medications are applied directly to the skin or mucous membranes, localizing treatment and minimizing systemic effects.

Other provided choices encompass specific administration routes but do not include the broader and more frequently utilized ones. For example, while nasal and transdermal are valid routes, they are less common than the ones listed in the correct answer. Similarly, inhaled and rectal routes are utilized but are not as universally applied across various medications as the routes in the correct option. Hence, the first choice is the most comprehensive and accurately reflects common practice in medication administration.