Dermatome

Dermatome is a term used in the field of medicine and anatomy to describe a specific area of skin that is primarily supplied by a single spinal nerve. Each of these nerves relays sensation (including pain) from a particular region of skin to the brain.

Overview

There are eight cervical nerves, twelve thoracic nerves, five lumbar nerves and five sacral nerves. Each of these nerves relays sensation from a particular region of skin to the brain. The dermatomes are named according to the spinal nerve which supplies them. The dermatomes are almost all bilaterally symmetrical, and each half of the body mirrors the other in its pattern of dermatomes.

Clinical significance

Dermatomes have clinical significance, especially in the diagnosis of diseases that cause neurological deficits. For example, in shingles, a viral infection of specific dermatomes can be identified by the painful, blistering skin rash that appears. Similarly, in spinal disc herniation, the affected dermatome can provide clues to the location of the herniated disc.

See also

• Myotome
• Sclerotome
• Spinal nerve
• Shingles
• Spinal disc herniation