What angle is used for intramuscular injections in adults?

What angle is used for intramuscular injections in adults?

• A. 60-degree angle
• B. 90-degree angle
• C. 45-degree angle
• D. 15-degree angle

Answer: (B)

When giving an intramuscular injection in adults, insert the needle perpendicular to the skin at a 90-degree angle. This straight-in approach ensures the medication reaches the muscle tissue, where absorption is appropriate for IM administration. Using shallower angles would tend to place the drug into subcutaneous tissue rather than the muscle, leading to slower or unpredictable absorption. The other angles are typically used for subcutaneous or superficial injections, not IM. The exact needle length depends on site and patient size, but the angle remains 90 degrees to deliver into the muscle.

When giving an intramuscular injection in adults, insert the needle perpendicular to the skin at a 90-degree angle. This straight-in approach ensures the medication reaches the muscle tissue, where absorption is appropriate for IM administration. Using shallower angles would tend to place the drug into subcutaneous tissue rather than the muscle, leading to slower or unpredictable absorption. The other angles are typically used for subcutaneous or superficial injections, not IM. The exact needle length depends on site and patient size, but the angle remains 90 degrees to deliver into the muscle.