Anatomical basis of common clinical procedures

• Anatomical basis of common clinical procedures: skin, muscle, vessel and airway anatomy fixing the correct site for injections, aspirations, pulse palpation, venepuncture and tracheostomy.

Subcutaneous Injections

• Subcutaneous injections are painful due to pain receptors in subcutaneous tissue; absorption is slow because of its poor blood supply.
• Only small doses, 0.5 to 1 mL, of water-soluble drugs are given subcutaneously.
• Sites: posterior aspect of arm, anterior aspect of forearm, anterior abdominal wall, anterior aspect of thigh.

Intramuscular Injections

Sites of intramuscular injection