Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) Practice Test

Which of the following is absorbed through the mucous membranes beneath the tongue?

1. Subungual

2. Sublingual

3. Intradermal

4. Subcutaneous

The correct answer is: Sublingual

The correct choice is B, as sublingual administration refers specifically to the absorption of substances through the mucous membranes located beneath the tongue. This route is particularly effective because the area is rich in blood vessels, allowing for rapid absorption directly into the bloodstream. Medications taken sublingually bypass the digestive system and the first-pass metabolism in the liver, leading to faster onset of action and increased bioavailability. In contrast, subungual pertains to the area beneath the nails, and substances applied in this manner do not have the same absorption characteristics as sublingual routes. Intradermal and subcutaneous refer to injections into the layers of skin or beneath the skin, respectively, rather than absorption through mucous membranes, meaning these methods involve a different mechanism of absorption and are not relevant to the question about mucous membrane absorption under the tongue.