What does the term 'sublingual' refer to in medication administration?

The term 'sublingual' specifically refers to the method of administering medication by placing it under the tongue. This route allows the medication to dissolve and be absorbed directly into the bloodstream through the tissues located there, which can result in a faster onset of action compared to oral ingestion.

The absorption under the tongue bypasses the digestive system and first-pass metabolism in the liver, leading to more efficient delivery of the active ingredients. This is particularly beneficial for medications that need to act quickly or are poorly absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract.

Other methods of medication administration, such as those that involve swallowing pills whole or taking medications with water, do not utilize the sublingual route and therefore are not applicable when defining the term. Similarly, injections represent a completely different route of administration that does not involve the oral cavity at all.