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HomeThe skinThe deltoid muscleAbout the deltoid The acromion, the coracoid and the coracoacromial The rotator cuff

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Rotator Cuff Relevant Anatomy and Mechanics.

Last updated Wednesday, January 26, 2005

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The deltoid muscle

The deltoid arises from the lateral half of the clavicle, the acromion and posteriorly from the scapular spine.

About the deltoid

The origin of the deltoid is over the entire anterior height of the acromion, thus in the performance of an acromioplasty a substantial amount of the deltoid origin must be detached, whether the procedure is performed open or arthroscopically. (Torpey, McFarland, 1996) The deltoid has an important and constant tendon of origin separating its anterior and lateral thirds. This tendon attaches to the anterior lateral corner of the acromion in which location it provides the key to the anterior deltoid-splitting approach to the cuff. By making the deltoid split down the center of the tendon, the surgeon can be assured of having strong tendinous "handles" on the muscle for use in deltoid closure (see figure 1). While it is often said that the location of the axillary nerve is on the average five centimeters distal to the acromion, its anterior branches swoop upwards so that it is desirable to limit the inferior extent of the deltoid split to minimize the risk of injury to the axillary nerve branches (see figure 1).

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