The Deltoid Muscle

Discover the anatomy and key functions of the deltoid muscle with Innerbody's interactive 3D model.

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Last updated: Nov 27th, 2024
The Deltoid Muscle
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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 is attached by tendons to the skeleton at the clavicle (collarbone), scapula (shoulder blade), and humerus (upper arm bone). The deltoid is widest at the top of the shoulder and narrows to its apex as it travels down the arm. Contraction of the deltoid muscle results in a wide range of movement of the arm at the shoulder due to its location and the wide separation of its muscle fibers.

The deltoid has three origins: the lateral end of the clavicle, the acromion of the scapula at the top of the shoulder, and the spine of the scapula. Each origin gives rise to its own band of muscle fibers with the anterior band forming at the clavicle, the lateral fibers forming at the acromion, and the posterior fibers forming at the spine of the scapula. The bands merge together as they approach the insertion point on the deltoid tuberosity of the humerus.

The deltoid has three distinct functions that correspond to the three bands of muscle fibers. Contraction of the anterior fibers flexes and medially rotates the arm by pulling the humerus towards the clavicle. Flexion and medial rotation of the arm moves the arm anteriorly, as in reaching forward or throwing a ball underhand. The lateral fibers abduct the arm by pulling the humerus toward the acromion. Abduction of the arm results in the arm moving away from the body, as in reaching out to the side. Contraction of the posterior fibers extends and laterally rotates the arm by pulling the humerus toward the spine of the scapula. Extension and lateral rotation moves the arm posteriorly, as in reaching backwards or winding up to throw a ball underhand.