Which dosage form is defined as a medication enclosed in a gelatin shell and taken by mouth?

Which dosage form is defined as a medication enclosed in a gelatin shell and taken by mouth?

• A. Pill
• B. Caplet
• C. Tablet
• D. Capsule

Answer: (D)

The main idea here is identifying a dosage form defined by its gelatin shell surrounding the medication for oral administration. A capsule fits this description because it is specifically a dosage form in which the drug is enclosed within a gelatin shell, which can be hard (two-piece) or soft (one-piece) for liquids. Capsules are designed to be swallowed whole and to release the drug once the shell dissolves in the stomach or gut. Understanding the alternatives helps reinforce why capsules are the correct choice. A pill is a more general, historical term often used for solid forms, but it isn’t defined by a gelatin shell. A caplet is a smooth, elongated tablet shape, not an encapsulated shell. A tablet is a compressed solid dose, sometimes coated, but again not enclosed in a gelatin shell. So the defining feature here—the gelatin capsule shell—points to capsules.

The main idea here is identifying a dosage form defined by its gelatin shell surrounding the medication for oral administration. A capsule fits this description because it is specifically a dosage form in which the drug is enclosed within a gelatin shell, which can be hard (two-piece) or soft (one-piece) for liquids. Capsules are designed to be swallowed whole and to release the drug once the shell dissolves in the stomach or gut.

Understanding the alternatives helps reinforce why capsules are the correct choice. A pill is a more general, historical term often used for solid forms, but it isn’t defined by a gelatin shell. A caplet is a smooth, elongated tablet shape, not an encapsulated shell. A tablet is a compressed solid dose, sometimes coated, but again not enclosed in a gelatin shell. So the defining feature here—the gelatin capsule shell—points to capsules.