What is the upper outer quadrant of the buttock used for?

The upper outer quadrant of the buttock is primarily used for dorsogluteal injections. This site is chosen because it is located in an area that minimizes the risk of injury to major nerves and blood vessels, making it a safe location for intramuscular injections. The gluteus maximus muscle, situated in this quadrant, has a large surface area which allows for the administration of medications that require deep injection, such as certain vaccines or medications that are irritating or require slow absorption.

Using this site ensures that the medication can be absorbed effectively into the systemic circulation, utilizing the rich vascular supply of the muscle tissue. Proper identification of the upper outer quadrant is crucial to ensure that the injection is delivered accurately and safely. Other injection sites listed, such as the deltoid, subcutaneous, and vastus lateralis, do not pertain to the upper outer quadrant of the buttock and serve different purposes or are used for different types of injections.