If injecting medication into the deltoid muscle of an adult, the volume of solution should not exceed 1 mL. If injecting into the vastus lateralis, ventrogluteal, gluteus medius, or dorsogluteal muscles of an adult, the volume should not exceed 3 mL.

The deltoid muscle is the muscle forming the rounded contour of the human shoulder. It is also known as the ‘common shoulder muscle’, particularly in other animals such as the domestic cat….

The deltoid muscle is a rounded, triangular muscle located on the uppermost part of the arm and the top of the shoulder. It is named after the Greek letter delta, which is shaped like an equilateral triangle.

The deltoid muscle has multiple functions: it’s almost like three different muscles. Its anterior part is a powerful flexor, its posterior part is a powerful extensor, and its lateral part is a powerful abductor.

It occurs when there is damage to the axillary nerve. This is the nerve that helps control the deltoid muscles of the shoulder and the skin around it.

Giving an IM injection into the deltoid site

1. Find the knobbly top of the arm (acromion process)
2. The top border of an inverted triangle is two finger widths down from the acromion process.
3. Stretch the skin and then bunch up the muscle.
4. Insert the needle at a right angle to the skin in the centre of the inverted triangle.

For men and women who weigh <130 lbs (<60 kg), a ⅝-inch needle is sufficient to ensure intramuscular injection in the deltoid muscle if the injection is made at a 90-degree angle and the tissue is not bunched. For men and women who weigh 130-152 lbs (60-70 kg), a 1-inch needle is sufficient.

If you see blood in the syringe, it means you might have hit a blood vessel. This usually isn’t harmful. If you see blood in the bottom of the syringe (hub) before you push in the plunger: Remove the needle without giving the medicine.