Meaning & use
intramuscular
Last updated
Meanings
adjectivebefore a nounmedical
Given by injection directly into a muscle.
Grammar: Used before a noun: intramuscular injection, intramuscular route.
Patterns
- intramuscular injection
- intramuscular route
- intramuscularly
The nurse gave the vaccine as an intramuscular injection in the upper arm.
Intramuscular injections are absorbed faster than some other types.
The doctor chose the intramuscular route for the antibiotic.
adjectivebefore a nounmedicalbiology
Situated or occurring inside a muscle.
Grammar: Used before a noun: intramuscular fat, intramuscular tissue.
Patterns
- intramuscular fat
- intramuscular tissue
The scan showed a small amount of intramuscular fat.
Intramuscular bleeding can cause pain and swelling.
Common combinations
- intramuscular injection
- She received an intramuscular injection of the vaccine.
- intramuscular route
- The intramuscular route is often used for antibiotics.
- intramuscular fat
- Marbling in beef is intramuscular fat.
- intramuscularly
- The drug was administered intramuscularly.
Synonyms and how they differ
- IM
- The common abbreviation in medical notes; it is not used in formal writing.
Opposites
Word family
- intramuscularly adverb
- In a way that goes into a muscle, as in 'given intramuscularly'.
Commonly confused: intramuscular or intravenous?
intramuscular vs intravenous
Intravenous means into a vein, while intramuscular means into a muscle. They describe different injection routes.
Practice
A nurse gives a patient an intramuscular injection. Where does the needle go?
Choose one answer.
Intramuscular means into a muscle, so option 1 is correct. Into a vein would be intravenous, under the skin would be subcutaneous, and into the stomach would be oral or gastric.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “intramuscular”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.