Subcutaneous
Under the skin. "Subcutaneous" implies just under the skin. With a subcutaneous injection, a needle is inserted just under the skin. A drug (for example, insulin) can then be delivered into the subcutaneous tissues. After the injection, the drug moves into small blood vessels and the bloodstream. The subcutaneous route is used with many protein and polypeptide drugs such as insulin which, if given by mouth, would be broken down and digested in the intestinal tract.
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sub·cu·ta·ne·ous .səb-kyu̇-'tā-nē-əs adj being, living, used, or made under the skin
<\subcutaneous parasites>
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adj.
beneath the skin. A subcutaneous injection is given beneath the skin. Subcutaneous tissue is loose connective tissue, often fatty, situated under the dermis.
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sub·cu·ta·ne·ous (SC, SQ) (sub″ku-taґne-əs) beneath the skin; called also hypodermic.
Medical dictionary.
2011.