Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician (ALAT) Practice Exam 2026 - Free ALAT Practice Questions and Study Guide

Topical administration refers to the method of delivering a drug directly to a specific area of the skin or mucous membranes. This can include applications such as creams, ointments, lotions, gels, and patches, allowing the medication to be absorbed through the skin or mucous membranes for localized or systemic effect. The primary advantage of this method is that it minimizes systemic side effects and provides targeted relief, making it particularly useful for treating skin conditions or delivering medication in controlled doses without the need for invasive techniques.

Oral administration involves administering medication through the gastrointestinal tract, which does not apply in this context as it bypasses the skin and mucous membranes. Rectal administration is focused on delivering medications through the rectal route, primarily targeting local conditions or systemic absorption through the rectal mucosa, but it does not describe the broader category of topical methods. Parenteral administration includes methods such as injections, which also do not involve the skin directly nor mucous membranes in the same way topical methods do. In summary, topical administration is the correct method for providing a drug through the skin or mucous membranes, emphasizing the direct absorption aspect that characterizes this method.