What it means
The deltoid is a common site for intramuscular injectionin-truh-MUS-kyuh-ler in-JEK-shunAn injection that puts medicine deep into a muscle.Full entry s of small amounts, such as vaccines in adults. The site is in the center of the muscle, about two to three finger-widths below the bony point of the shoulder (acromion process).
For the nurse
Give no more than about 1 mL in the deltoid of an adult, and find the site by its landmarks to avoid the nerves and blood vessels below it.
At a glance
| Spanish | deltoides |
|---|---|
| Also written | deltoid muscle |
Related terms
-oid
A word ending that means like or resembling.
intramuscular
Into a muscle; used for a drug given by injection into muscle tissue.
intramuscular injection
An injection that puts medicine deep into a muscle.