Which term best describes a medication that is taken by mouth?

The term that best describes a medication taken by mouth is "oral." This route of administration specifically refers to any medication that is ingested and absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract. Oral medications can come in various forms, such as tablets, capsules, liquids, or powders, and they are designed to be processed by the digestive system before entering the bloodstream.

When medications are referred to as oral, it signifies that they are meant to produce systemic effects after being absorbed through the intestinal lining. This is a common and widely used delivery method in pharmaceuticals due to its convenience and ease of administration for patients.

In contrast, other routes of administration such as parenteral involve injections that bypass the digestive system entirely, topical refers to medications applied directly to the skin or mucous membranes for localized effects, and inhalation pertains to medications delivered through the respiratory tract, such as inhalers or nebulizers. Each of these terms denotes a distinct method of delivering medications, underscoring why "oral" is the appropriate choice for describing a medication taken by mouth.