Certified Clinical Medical Assistant CCMA Practice Test

An MA is administering an IM injection into the gluteus medius of an adult pt. At which of the following angles should the assistant insert the needle?

1. 45-degree angle

2. 60-degree angle

3. 90-degree angle

4. 120-degree angle

The correct answer is: 90-degree angle

For administering an intramuscular (IM) injection, the needle should be inserted at a 90-degree angle to ensure that the medication is delivered directly into the muscle tissue. This angle facilitates the proper distribution of the medication into the gluteus medius muscle, which is commonly used for IM injections due to its size and depth. Inserting the needle at a 90-degree angle helps to minimize the risk of injecting the medication into subcutaneous tissue or below, which can lessen the effectiveness of the medication and may lead to complications such as irritation or abscess formation. This angle is standard practice for IM injections, allowing for optimal absorption of the medication into the bloodstream from the muscle tissue.