Deltoid Muscle

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.

Resumen

El músculo deltoide

La contracción del músculo deltoide produce un amplio rango de movimiento del brazo a la
altura del hombro, debido a su ubicación y a la amplia separación de sus fibras musculares.

Este músculo tiene tres orígenes: el extremo lateral de la clavícula, el acromion de la escápula
en la parte superior del hombro, y la protuberancia de la escápula.

Además, el deltoide tiene tres funciones distintivas que se corresponden con las tres bandas
de fibras musculares.