Deltoid muscle

Authors

Affiliations

Nathaniel Yomogida, B.S., SPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

B.S. in Kinesiology

Chloë Kerstein, B.S., SPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

B.A. in Neuroscience

Schematic of the Deltoid Muscle1 — Schematic of the Deltoid Muscle¹

Deltoid Muscle (Lateral view)1 Deltoid Muscle (Anterior view)1 Deltoid Muscle (Posterior view)1

Warning: No 'path' link found for variable 'ref-anterior-deltoid' in YAML data.
Warning: No 'path' link found for variable 'ref-lateral-deltoid' in YAML data.
Warning: No 'path' link found for variable 'ref-posterior-deltoid' in YAML data.
Warning: No 'origin' link found for variable 'ref-anterior-deltoid' in YAML data.
Warning: No 'origin' link found for variable 'ref-anterior-deltoid' in YAML data.
Warning: No 'origin' link found for variable 'ref-anterior-deltoid' in YAML data.
Warning: No 'origin' link found for variable 'ref-lateral-deltoid' in YAML data.
Warning: No 'origin' link found for variable 'ref-lateral-deltoid' in YAML data.
Warning: No 'origin' link found for variable 'ref-posterior-deltoid' in YAML data.
Warning: No 'origin' link found for variable 'ref-posterior-deltoid' in YAML data.
Warning: No 'origin' link found for variable 'ref-posterior-deltoid' in YAML data.
Warning: No 'insertion' link found for variable 'ref-anterior-deltoid' in YAML data.
Warning: No 'insertion' link found for variable 'ref-anterior-deltoid' in YAML data.
Warning: No 'insertion' link found for variable 'ref-anterior-deltoid' in YAML data.
Warning: No 'insertion' link found for variable 'ref-lateral-deltoid' in YAML data.
Warning: No 'insertion' link found for variable 'ref-lateral-deltoid' in YAML data.
Warning: No 'insertion' link found for variable 'ref-posterior-deltoid' in YAML data.
Warning: No 'insertion' link found for variable 'ref-posterior-deltoid' in YAML data.
Warning: No 'insertion' link found for variable 'ref-posterior-deltoid' in YAML data.
Warning: No 'innervation' link found for variable 'ref-anterior-deltoid' in YAML data.
Warning: No 'innervation' link found for variable 'ref-anterior-deltoid' in YAML data.
Warning: No 'innervation' link found for variable 'ref-anterior-deltoid' in YAML data.
Warning: No 'innervation' link found for variable 'ref-lateral-deltoid' in YAML data.
Warning: No 'innervation' link found for variable 'ref-lateral-deltoid' in YAML data.
Warning: No 'innervation' link found for variable 'ref-posterior-deltoid' in YAML data.
Warning: No 'innervation' link found for variable 'ref-posterior-deltoid' in YAML data.
Warning: No 'innervation' link found for variable 'ref-posterior-deltoid' in YAML data.
Warning: No 'action' link found for variable 'ref-anterior-deltoid' in YAML data.
Warning: No 'action' link found for variable 'ref-anterior-deltoid' in YAML data.
Warning: No 'action' link found for variable 'ref-anterior-deltoid' in YAML data.
Warning: No 'action' link found for variable 'ref-anterior-deltoid' in YAML data.
Warning: No 'action' link found for variable 'ref-anterior-deltoid' in YAML data.
Warning: No 'action' link found for variable 'ref-anterior-deltoid' in YAML data.
Warning: No 'action' link found for variable 'ref-anterior-deltoid' in YAML data.
Warning: No 'action' link found for variable 'ref-anterior-deltoid' in YAML data.
Warning: No 'action' link found for variable 'ref-anterior-deltoid' in YAML data.
Warning: No 'action' link found for variable 'ref-lateral-deltoid' in YAML data.
Warning: No 'action' link found for variable 'ref-lateral-deltoid' in YAML data.
Warning: No 'action' link found for variable 'ref-posterior-deltoid' in YAML data.
Warning: No 'action' link found for variable 'ref-posterior-deltoid' in YAML data.
Warning: No 'action' link found for variable 'ref-posterior-deltoid' in YAML data.
Warning: No 'action' link found for variable 'ref-posterior-deltoid' in YAML data.
Warning: No 'action' link found for variable 'ref-posterior-deltoid' in YAML data.
Warning: No 'action' link found for variable 'ref-posterior-deltoid' in YAML data.
Warning: No 'action' link found for variable 'ref-posterior-deltoid' in YAML data.
Warning: No 'action' link found for variable 'ref-posterior-deltoid' in YAML data.
Warning: No 'action' link found for variable 'ref-posterior-deltoid' in YAML data.

Muscle	Origin	Insertion	Innervation	Action
Anterior deltoid	Lateral third of clavicle	Deltoid tuberosity of humerus	Axillary n. C5 - C6	GHJ: Flexion, IR, Adduction
Lateral deltoid	Acromion	Deltoid tuberosity of humerus	Axillary n. C5 - C6	GHJ: Abduction
Posterior deltoid	Scapular spine	Deltoid tuberosity of humerus	Axillary n. C5 - C6	GHJ: Extension, ER, Abduction

Anterior head

Origin

Lateral 1/3 of clavicle¹

Insertion

Humerus (deltoid tuberosity)¹

Innervation

Axillary n. C5, C6¹

Action

Flexion, internal rotation, adduction¹

Lateral part

Origin

Acromion¹

Insertion

Humerus (deltoid tuberosity)¹

Innervation

Axillary n. C5, C6¹

Action

Abduction¹

Note

*Between 60 and 90 degrees of abduction, the clavicular and spinal parts assist the acromial part with abduction¹

Posterior part

Origin

Scapular spine¹ ### Insertion Humerus (deltoid tuberosity)¹

Innervation

Axillary n. C5, C6¹

Action

Extension, external rotation, adduction¹

Note

*Between 60 and 90 degrees of abduction, the clavicular and spinal parts assist the acromial part with abduction¹

Clinical Relevance

As the GHJ becomes more unstable, the deltoid muscle takes on more of a stabilizing role²

Strength Testing

Palpation

Dysfunction

Gilroy AM, MacPherson BR, Wikenheiser JC, Voll MM, Wesker K, Schünke M, eds. Atlas of Anatomy. 4th ed. Thieme; 2020.

Kido T, Itoi E, Lee SB, Neale PG, An KN. Dynamic stabilizing function of the deltoid muscle in shoulders with anterior instability. The American Journal of Sports Medicine. 2003;31(3):399-403. doi:10.1177/03635465030310031201

Citation

For attribution, please cite this work as:

Yomogida N, Kerstein C. Deltoid muscle. https://yomokerst.com/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Upper Limb Muscles/Intrinsic Shoulder Muscles/deltoid_muscle.html