Enteral
The term enteral ( Gr. Έντερον énteron "intestine", "intestines") is used in medicine to denote the supply or loss of drugs or food , electrolytes or trace elements via the intestine .
According to the guideline of the German Society for Nutritional Medicine (DGEM), enteral nutrition refers to the administration of food “ distal to the oral cavity via a tube or via a stoma using the intestinal tract.” Oral food supplementation is therefore not included.
The enteral administration of drugs is opposed to the parenteral administration, which bypasses the gastrointestinal tract (for example as intravenous , intramuscular , subcutaneous or inhalative administration).