Which route is described by a patch that releases medication through the skin?

• A. Topical route
• B. Inhalation route
• C. Transdermal route
• D. Buccal route

Answer: (C)

Transdermal delivery uses a patch placed on the skin to release medication into the bloodstream, providing systemic exposure over time. The patch is designed to get the drug through the skin layers so it enters circulation, not just act at the skin surface. This is different from a topical preparation, which aims for local action on the skin itself. Inhalation delivers drug through the lungs for rapid systemic uptake, while buccal administration absorbs through the mouth’s mucous membranes. So a skin patch releasing medication is delivering via the transdermal route, offering steady, body-wide effects rather than a localized skin effect.