Dermatome (anatomy)

Dermatome (anatomy)
Dermatomes and cutaneous nerves - anterior.png
Dermatomes and cutaneous nerves - posterior.png


Dermatomes and major cutaneous nerves.

A dermatome is an area of skin that is mainly supplied by a single spinal nerve. There are eight ( However C 1 is not related to dermatomes) cervical nerves, twelve thoracic nerves, five lumbar nerves and five sacral nerves. Each of these nerves relays sensation (including pain) from a particular region of skin to the brain.

Along the thorax and abdomen the dermatomes are like a stack of discs forming a human, each supplied by a different spinal nerve. Along the arms and the legs, the pattern is different: the dermatomes run longitudinally along the limbs. Although the general pattern is similar in all people, the precise areas of innervation are as unique to an individual as fingerprints.

A similar area innervated by peripheral nerves is called a peripheral nerve field.

Contents

Clinical significance

A dermatome is an area of skin supplied by sensory neurons that arise from a spinal nerve ganglion. Symptoms that follow a dermatome (e.g. like pain or a rash) may indicate a pathology that involves the related nerve root. Examples include somatic dysfunction of the spine or viral infection. Referred pain usually involves a specific, "referred" location so is not associated with a dermatome.

Viruses that hibernate in nerve ganglia (e.g. Herpes zoster or Varicella Zoster viridae) often cause either pain, rash or both in a pattern defined by a dermatome. However, the symptoms may not appear across the entire dermatome.

Important dermatomes and anatomical landmarks

Additional images

See also

External links


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