What term would describe a procedure done through the skin?

The term that describes a procedure done through the skin is "percutaneous." This term literally means "through the skin" and is used in medical contexts to refer to various procedures that access the underlying tissues, organs, or systems via the skin without the need for large incisions.

Percutaneous procedures include a wide array of interventions, such as needle biopsies, catheter placements, and certain minimally invasive surgeries, where the skin acts as the entry point. The significance of this term lies in its implications for patient care, indicating a less invasive approach that often leads to quicker recovery times and lower complication rates compared to open surgical techniques.

In contrast, other terms like "intravenous" refers specifically to procedures involving the veins, while "subcutaneous" refers to processes occurring directly beneath the skin but not necessarily through it. "Transdermal," on the other hand, is typically used to describe medications that are delivered through the skin via patches or other means, rather than a procedure that accesses deeper tissues. This further clarifies why "percutaneous" is the most accurate term for a procedure done through the skin.