Administration of food directly into the stomach by a tube inserted either through the nasopharynx and esophagus or directly through the abdominal wall is called?

• A. Enteral Nutrition
• B. Oral Feeding
• C. Gastric Feedings
• D. IV Nutrition

Answer: (C)

The concept here is delivering nourishment directly into the stomach through a tube, which is known as gastric feeding. This is a type of enteral nutrition, since the nutrients enter the gastrointestinal tract rather than the bloodstream. It can be done with a tube passed through the nose into the stomach (nasogastric tube) or through the abdominal wall into the stomach (gastrostomy). This method is used when a person cannot swallow safely but the GI tract remains functional, helping to maintain gut function and reduce infection risk compared with IV nutrition. Oral feeding is by mouth, and IV (parenteral) nutrition bypasses the GI tract entirely, so they’re not the same as gastric feeding. Remember to monitor tube placement, keep the head of the bed elevated, and watch for complications like aspiration.