C Spine Dermatome Map – The term “dermatome” is a mix of 2 Ancient Greek words; “derma” implying “skin”, and “tome”, indicating “cutting” or “thin sector”. It is a location of skin which is innervated by the posterior (dorsal) root of a single spinal nerve. As posterior roots are organized in sectors, dermatomes are. This is why the term “dermatome” describes the segmental innervation of the skin.
Dermatomes Diagram Spinal Nerves And Locations – Dermatomes Diagram Spinal Nerves And Locations
Neighboring dermatomes often, if not always overlap to some degree with each other, as the sensory peripheral branches representing one posterior root typically exceed the limit of their dermatome. As such, the thin lines seen in the dermatome maps are more of a scientific guide than a real boundary. C Spine Dermatome Map
This means that if a single back nerve is affected, there is likely still some degree of innervation to that sector of skin originating from above and listed below. For a dermatome to be totally numb, generally two or 3 neighboring posterior roots require to be affected. In addition, it’s essential to keep in mind that dermatomes are subject to a large degree of interindividual variation. A graphical representation of all the dermatomes on a body surface chart is referred to as a dermatome map. C Spine Dermatome Map
Dermatome maps
Dermatome maps portray the sensory circulation of each dermatome throughout the body. Clinicians can assess cutaneous sensation with a dermatome map as a way to localize lesions within main worried tissue, injury to specific back nerves, and to identify the degree of the injury. A number of dermatome maps have been established throughout the years however are typically conflicting.
The most typically utilized dermatome maps in major textbooks are the Keegan and Garrett map (1948) which leans towards a developmental analysis of this idea, and the Foerster map (1933) which associates much better with scientific practice. This post will examine the dermatomes utilizing both maps, determining and comparing the major differences between them.
Why Are Dermatomes Important?
To understand dermatomes, it is necessary to comprehend the anatomy of the spine. The spinal column is divided into 31 sectors, each with a set (right and left) of anterior and posterior nerve roots. The kinds of nerves in the anterior and posterior roots are different.
Anterior nerve roots are responsible for motor signals to the body, and posterior nerve roots get sensory signals like discomfort or other sensory signs. The posterior and anterior nerve roots integrate on each side to form the back nerves as they exit the vertebral canal (the bones of the spine, or backbone).