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Deltoid

The deltoid muscle (Latin: musculus deltoideus) is a thick triangular-shaped muscle of the upper limb. Its name derives from the Greek letter "delta," as the muscle resembles its shape. The deltoid muscle stretches between the clavicle, scapula and humerus. As it provides movements at the shoulder joint, it is classified as the muscle of the shoulder girdle. The deltoid muscle is composed of three parts - clavicular, acromial and spinal. Each part has its own origin site. All parts merge together and have a common insertion site.

Deltoid
Origin

Clavicular part - acromial end of clavicle

Acromial part - acromion of scapula

Spinal part - spine of scapula

InsertionDeltoid tuberosity of humerus
Action

Clavicular part - internal rotation of arm

Acromial part - abduction of arm

Spinal part - external rotation of arm

Clavicular and spinal parts - adduction of arm

Clavicular and acromial parts - flexion of arm

Acromial and spinal parts - extension of arm

Innervation Axillary nerve (C5, C6)
Blood supply Deltoid and acromial branches of thoracoacromial artery, subscapular artery, anterior and posterior circumflex humeral arteries, deltoid branch of deep brachial artery
Shoulder muscles colored, Teres major, Supraspinatus, Infraspinatus, Deltoid, Upper extremity, Muscles
Muscles of shoulder region by Anatomy.app
Deltoid, Muscles of shoulder girdle, Muscles of upper limb, Arm muscles, Lateral view of deltoid muscle, Clavicular part of deltoid, Acromial part of deltoid, Spinal part of deltoid
Deltoid muscle by Anatomy.app

 

Origin

As written above, each part of the deltoid muscle has a different origin site. The clavicular part arises from the acromial end of the clavicle. The acromial part originates from the acromion of the scapula, while the spinal part arises from the spine of the scapula.

Deltoid, Origin of deltoid, Insertion of deltoid, Muscles of upper limb, Muscles of shoulder girdle, Arm muscles, Clavicular part of deltoid, Acromial part of deltoid
Origin of deltoid (anterior view) by Anatomy.app
Deltoid, Origin of deltoid, Muscles of upper limb, Muscles of shoulder girdle, Arm muscles, Spinal part of deltoid, Acromial part of deltoid
Origin of deltoid (posterior view) by Anatomy.app

 

Insertion

Fibers from all three parts of the deltoid merge together and insert on the deltoid tuberosity of the humerus. It is located in the middle of the anterolateral surface of the humeral shaft.

Deltoid, Origin of deltoid, Insertion of deltoid, Muscles of upper limb, Muscles of shoulder girdle, Arm muscles, Clavicular part of deltoid, Acromial part of deltoid, Spinal part of deltoid
Insertion of deltoid by Anatomy.app

 

Action

Each activated part of the deltoid muscle provides different functions. The clavicular part is responsible for the internal (medial) rotation of the arm, while the spinal part provides the external (lateral) rotation of the arm. The fibers of the acromial part ensure the abduction of the arm.

Some functions are provided when several parts of the muscle are activated. The clavicular part together with the spinal part provides the adduction of the arm, while the clavicular and acromial parts together are responsible for the flexion of the arm. And finally, the acromial and spinal parts ensure the extension of the arm.

Deltoid, Action of deltoid, Function of deltoid, Anterior deltoid, Lateral deltoid, Posterior deltoid, Muscles of upper limb, Muscles of shoulder girdle, Arm muscles
Action of deltoid by Anatomy.app

 

Innervation

The deltoid is innervated by the axillary nerve that arises from the fifth and sixth cervical (C5, C6) nerve roots of the brachial plexus.

 

Blood supply

The deltoid muscle receives arterial blood supply from the deltoid and acromial branches of the thoracoacromial artery, subscapular artery, anterior and posterior circumflex humeral arteries and deltoid branch of the deep brachial artery. All mentioned arteries arise from the axillary artery, except the deep brachial artery that is a branch of the brachial artery.