Intensive Care Medicine (ICM) Practice Exam

Which of the following places is the least suitable for a one-time application of more than 2ml of medication?

1. M. gluteus maximus

2. M. gluteus medius

3. M. quadriceps femoris

4. M. deltoideus

The correct answer is: M. deltoideus

The deltoid muscle, located in the upper arm, is the least suitable site for a one-time application of more than 2ml of medication due to its limited muscle mass and smaller volume capacity compared to the other listed muscles. When administering intramuscular injections, it is important to consider the muscle's size and the amount of medication that can be comfortably and safely injected. The deltoid typically accommodates a maximum of about 1ml to 2ml without posing a risk of injury to surrounding tissues or causing discomfort to the patient. Larger volumes in this muscle can lead to complications such as muscle damage or injection site pain. In contrast, the gluteus maximus and gluteus medius muscles are larger muscle groups that can accept larger volumes of medication, often up to 5ml or more. The quadriceps femoris, as a large muscle group in the thigh, also has a capacity to accommodate larger injections. Understanding the appropriate dosage limits for each injection site is crucial in clinical practice to ensure patient safety and comfort.