Dermatome Chart Lumbar – The term “dermatome” is a combination of two Ancient Greek words; “derma” indicating “skin”, and “tome”, implying “cutting” or “thin section”. It is a location of skin which is innervated by the posterior (dorsal) root of a single spinal nerve. As posterior roots are arranged in sections, dermatomes are also. This is why the term “dermatome” refers to the segmental innervation of the skin.
Dermatome Anatomy Wikipedia – Dermatome anatomy Wikipedia
Surrounding dermatomes frequently, if not constantly overlap to some degree with each other, as the sensory peripheral branches representing one posterior root usually surpass the limit of their dermatome. The thin lines seen in the dermatome maps are more of a scientific guide than a real limit. Dermatome Chart Lumbar
This indicates that if a single spine nerve is affected, there is likely still some degree of innervation to that segment of skin coming from above and listed below. For a dermatome to be entirely numb, generally two or three neighboring posterior roots need to be affected. In addition, it’s crucial to note that dermatomes go through a large degree of interindividual variation. A graphical representation of all the dermatomes on a body surface chart is described as a dermatome map. Dermatome Chart Lumbar
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 spinal nerves, and to determine the extent of the injury. Numerous dermatome maps have been developed over the years however are often contrasting.
The most commonly used dermatome maps in significant books are the Keegan and Garrett map (1948) which leans towards a developmental analysis of this principle, and the Foerster map (1933) which correlates better with scientific practice. This article will review the dermatomes using both maps, determining and comparing the significant differences in between them.
Why Are Dermatomes Important?
To understand dermatomes, it is necessary to understand the anatomy of the spinal column. The spine is divided into 31 sectors, each with a pair (right and left) of posterior and anterior nerve roots. The types of nerves in the anterior and posterior roots are different.
Anterior nerve roots are accountable 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 spinal column, or backbone).