Topical administration means to apply a drug where?

• A. By mouth
• B. On the surface of the body
• C. Into a muscle
• D. Inside a body cavity

Answer: (B)

Topical administration means applying a drug to the outside surfaces of the body or to the mucous membranes that line those surfaces, so the medicine acts locally on that area or is absorbed through the skin for a broader effect. Think of ointments, creams, gels, medicated shampoos, or eye and ear drops and even skin patches—that’s topical work because the drug is placed on the skin or other exterior surfaces rather than being swallowed or injected. This is different from giving something by mouth, which goes into the digestive system, or injecting into muscle, which delivers the drug into tissue beneath the skin, or delivering into a body cavity, which places the drug inside a hollow space within the body.