What does percutaneously mean?
Percutaneously means through the skin or by way of the skin. In medicine and pharmacology, the term usually describes how a substance enters the body through a patch, a topical preparation, or an injection, rather than through the digestive tract or a vein. A medicine absorbed percutaneously passes through the skin and into the underlying tissue or bloodstream, while a drug injected percutaneously is placed through the skin into tissue. The word is formal and specialized, appearing in medical guidance, product descriptions, and clinical literature. It is related to the adjective “percutaneous,” which describes a procedure performed through the skin. Although the word can sometimes suggest puncturing the skin, it does not necessarily imply that skin is pierced: absorption through an unbroken skin surface can also be described as percutaneous.
adverbIn a way that passes through or is applied to the skin, especially by injection or absorption through the skin.
- Through the skin or by way of the skin, especially in medicine.
"The vaccine can be administered percutaneously through a small patch placed on the skin."
"The drug is absorbed percutaneously through a patch applied to the upper arm."
"For this treatment, the medication is delivered percutaneously rather than swallowed."
From the Latin for “to pierce through,” percutaneously describes medicine that crosses the skin’s protective barrier.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of percutaneously
“Percutaneously” was formed in English from the adjective “percutaneous,” which was borrowed from Latin. The underlying Latin verb percutere means “to pierce through” and is also the source of English words such as “percussion” and “percussive.” In medical usage, the term developed to refer to an act or route passing through or via the skin.
How percutaneously is actually used
This is a formal medical term. It is most often used for the administration or absorption of a substance through the skin and is especially associated with transdermal delivery.
Easily confused with percutaneously
Percutaneously means through or via the skin, whereas subcutaneously means beneath the skin.