page_title: Subcutaneous injection
section_title: Injection sites
hierarchical_section_title: Subcutaneous injection / Injection sites
caption_attribution_description: English: Subcutaneous injection sites
context_page_description: A subcutaneous injection is administered as a bolus into the subcutis, the layer of skin directly below the dermis and epidermis, collectively referred to as the cutis. Subcutaneous injections are highly effective in administering medications such as insulin, morphine, diacetylmorphine and goserelin. Subcutaneous injection of recreational drugs is referred to as "skin popping." Subcutaneous administration may be abbreviated as SC, SQ, sub-cu, sub-Q, SubQ, or subcut. Subcut is the preferred abbreviation for patient safety.
  Subcutaneous tissue has few blood vessels and so drugs injected here are for slow, sustained rates of absorption. It is slower than intramuscular injections but still faster than intradermal injections.
context_section_description: Sites include,
  The outer area of the upper arm.
  The abdomen, from the rib margin to the iliac crest and avoiding a 2-inch circle around the navel. This has the fastest rate of absorption among the sites.
  The front of the thigh, midway to the outer side, 4 inches below the top of the thigh to 4 inches above the knee. This has a slower rate of absorption than the upper arm.
  The upper back.
  The upper area of the buttock, just behind the hip bone. This has the slowest rate of absorption among the sites.
caption: Subcutaneous injection sites
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