TRANSCUTANEOUS ADMINISTRATION Meaning and
Definition
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Transcutaneous administration refers to the delivery of drugs or therapeutic agents through the skin into the systemic circulation. It is a route of drug administration that allows bypassing the digestive system and the first-pass metabolism that occurs in the liver. The term "transcutaneous" literally means "through the skin," hence this method involves the direct transfer of drugs across the intact skin layers.
Transcutaneous administration can be achieved using different technologies, including the use of patches, gels, creams, ointments, and even certain devices. These formulations are designed to enhance drug penetration through the skin, enabling absorption into the bloodstream. The drugs can then reach target tissues or organs, exerting their intended therapeutic effects.
The skin acts as a barrier to prevent the entry of foreign substances, including chemicals, toxins, and microbes. However, specific strategies are employed to overcome this barrier during transcutaneous administration. These include the use of permeation enhancers, which facilitate drug penetration by temporarily altering the structure of the stratum corneum (the outermost layer of the skin) or by increasing the solubility of the drug in the skin.
Transcutaneous administration has several advantages, including convenience, non-invasiveness, and avoidance of gastrointestinal side effects. It is commonly utilized for the systemic delivery of various types of drugs, such as pain medications, hormone replacement therapies, nicotine for smoking cessation, and hormone contraceptives, among others. The effectiveness of transcutaneous administration varies depending on factors such as drug properties, skin condition, and formulation design.
Common Misspellings for TRANSCUTANEOUS ADMINISTRATION
- rranscutaneous administration
- franscutaneous administration
- granscutaneous administration
- yranscutaneous administration
- 6ranscutaneous administration
- 5ranscutaneous administration
- teanscutaneous administration
- tdanscutaneous administration
- tfanscutaneous administration
- ttanscutaneous administration
- t5anscutaneous administration
- t4anscutaneous administration
- trznscutaneous administration
- trsnscutaneous administration
- trwnscutaneous administration
- trqnscutaneous administration
- trabscutaneous administration
- tramscutaneous administration
- trajscutaneous administration
- trahscutaneous administration
Etymology of TRANSCUTANEOUS ADMINISTRATION
The word "transcutaneous" is derived from Latin roots. The prefix "trans-" means "across" or "through", while "cutaneous" refers to the skin. So, "transcutaneous" essentially means "across the skin".
The term "administration" comes from the Latin word "administratio", which means "management" or "conducting". In the context of healthcare, it refers to the act of applying or delivering a substance to the body for therapeutic purposes.
Therefore, the etymology of "transcutaneous administration" reflects the method of delivering substances across the skin for medical treatment.
