Deltoid Anatomy
Deltoid
is a large multipennate muscle responsible for the rounded contour of the
shoulder region (Fig. 3.10). The muscle overlies the shoulder joint and the attachments of the short
scapular muscles to the upper end of the humerus (Fig. 3.11). Proximally, it has a continuous attachment to
the lateral third of the clavicle and to the acromion and spine of the scapula. The distal attachment is to a roughened area, the deltoid tuberosity, midway
down the lateral surface of the shaft of the humerus (Fig. 3.23). Deltoid acts
only on the shoulder joint, where it is the main abductor. During this
movement, produced by the acromial fibres, the joint is stabilized by the
clavicular fibres and those from the scapular spine. Acting alone, the anterior
fibres produce flexion, whereas the posterior fibres extend the
shoulder joint. Deltoid is supplied by the axillary nerve, a terminal branch of
the posterior cord of the brachial plexus.
The axillary nerve leaves the axilla
through the quadrangular space (Fig. 3.64) accompanied by the posterior
circumflex humeral artery. In its course, the nerve is closely related to the
surgical neck of the humerus and to the capsule of the shoulder joint. It
supplies deltoid and teres minor, the shoulder joint and skin overlying the
lower part of deltoid. Damage to the nerve may occur during dislocation of the
shoulder joint, resulting in weakness of abduction, impaired sensation and,
subsequently, in loss of the normal contour of the shoulder as the deltoid
muscle becomes wasted.
