What it means
Muscle has a good blood supply, so the drug is absorbed faster than from under the skin. The needle goes in at a 90-degree angle. Common sites are the ventrogluteal (hip), the deltoidDEL-toydThe thick, triangle-shaped muscle that covers the shoulder and lifts the arm out to the side.Full entry (upper arm, for small amounts such as vaccines) and the vastus lateralis (outer thigh, the usual site for infants).
For the nurse
Choose the site and needle length by the client's age, size and the amount of drug. Find the site using bony landmarks. The Z-track method is used for drugs that irritate or stain the tissue.
At a glance
| Spanish | inyección intramuscular |
|---|---|
| Also written | IM injection, IM injections, intramuscular injections |
Related terms
intramuscular
Into a muscle; used for a drug given by injection into muscle tissue.
syringe
A tube with a plunger, used to draw up liquid and push it out, often through a needle.
parenteral
Given by a route other than the digestive tract, usually by injection or into a vein.
deltoid
The thick, triangle-shaped muscle that covers the shoulder and lifts the arm out to the side.