Which abbreviation stands for Subcutaneous?

• A. SQ
• B. IO
• C. IV
• D. IM

Answer: (A)

Subcutaneous is abbreviated as SQ. This route delivers medicine into the fatty tissue just under the skin, providing slower, steady absorption compared with injections into muscle or directly into a vein. It’s commonly used for medications like insulin, heparin, and some vaccines, where gradual uptake is appropriate.

Other routes shown by the remaining abbreviations are different: IO stands for intraosseous access, which goes through the bone marrow and is used when IV access is hard to obtain; IV stands for intravenous, delivering medicine directly into a vein for rapid systemic effect; IM stands for intramuscular, injecting into muscle tissue for relatively quick absorption depending on the medication.