In medical terminology, which of the following best describes 'p.o.'?

The term 'p.o.' stands for "per os," which is Latin for "by mouth." This abbreviation is used in medical terminology to indicate that a medication should be taken orally. Oral administration is the most common route for consuming medication, as it is convenient and can be easily managed by patients.

When medications are indicated to be taken p.o., this means that the patient is expected to swallow the medication, allowing it to be absorbed through the digestive system. This is in contrast to other routes such as intravenous administration, which involves delivering the medication directly into the bloodstream, inhalation, which involves breathing in medication, and sublingual administration, where the medication is placed under the tongue for absorption. Understanding these terms helps ensure proper medication administration and patient compliance.