What term describes the administration of medication through the spinal fluid?

The term that describes the administration of medication through the spinal fluid is intrathecal. This method involves injecting drugs directly into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which surrounds the brain and spinal cord. By delivering medication this way, it allows for rapid access to the central nervous system, making it particularly useful for treating conditions that require high concentrations of medication in the CSF, such as certain cancers, pain management, or infections affecting the nervous system.

This route is advantageous because it can bypass the blood-brain barrier, enabling effective treatment with lower doses compared to systemic administration, which might not achieve adequate therapeutic levels in the CNS. Intrathecal administration is distinct and specific in its application, setting it apart from other routes of medication delivery such as intravenous, intranasal, and intramuscular, which do not involve direct infusion into the spinal fluid.