Which of the following best describes parenteral nutrition?

Parenteral nutrition refers to the delivery of nutrients directly into the bloodstream through intravenous (IV) solutions, which is accurately described in the correct answer. This method bypasses the digestive system entirely, making it essential for patients who cannot meet their nutritional needs through oral or enteral routes due to conditions such as gastrointestinal disorders, surgery, or severe malnutrition.

Parenteral nutrition typically involves a carefully balanced mixture of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals, allowing for complete nutritional support. This approach ensures that patients receive the necessary nutrients for growth, healing, and overall health maintenance when traditional feeding methods are not viable or are contraindicated.

The other choices describe different forms of nutritional support: feeding tubes are associated with enteral nutrition, which involves delivering nutrition into the stomach; oral supplementation involves providing nutrients through food or drink; and intramuscular injections deliver substances directly into muscle tissue, typically for medication rather than comprehensive nutritional support. These differences help clarify why parenteral nutrition is specifically defined as IV solution administration into the bloodstream.