Sublingual administration is performed where?

• A. Under the tongue
• B. Under the cheek
• C. In the vein
• D. On the skin

Answer: (A)

Sublingual administration is performed under the tongue because this area has a thin, moist mucous membrane and a rich supply of blood vessels, which lets the drug dissolve quickly and enter the bloodstream rapidly. Absorption happens directly into systemic circulation, giving a fast onset and avoiding first-pass metabolism in the liver. If the medicine is swallowed, it would pass through the digestive system and be less predictable in onset and effect. Other routes differ: placing a medication under the cheek is buccal administration, which uses the inside of the mouth but not beneath the tongue; injecting into a vein is intravenous and delivers the drug straight into the bloodstream; applying to the skin is topical or transdermal, typically slower and often for local or sustained effects.