Dermatome Map Of The Body – The term “dermatome” is a combination of two Ancient Greek words; “derma” suggesting “skin”, and “tome”, indicating “cutting” or “thin section”. It is a location of skin which is innervated by the posterior (dorsal) root of a single back nerve. As posterior roots are arranged in sections, dermatomes are too. This is why the term “dermatome” refers to the segmental innervation of the skin.
Dermatome Anatomy Wikipedia – Dermatome anatomy Wikipedia
Neighboring dermatomes often, if not always overlap to some degree with each other, as the sensory peripheral branches corresponding to one posterior root normally exceed the limit of their dermatome. As such, the thin lines seen in the dermatome maps are more of a medical guide than a real border. Dermatome Map Of The Body
This means that if a single spine nerve is affected, there is likely still some degree of innervation to that section of skin coming from above and below. For a dermatome to be entirely numb, typically two or 3 neighboring posterior roots need to be impacted. In addition, it’s essential to note that dermatomes undergo a large degree of interindividual variation. A visual representation of all the dermatomes on a body surface chart is referred to as a dermatome map. Dermatome Map Of The Body
Dermatome maps
Dermatome maps illustrate the sensory distribution of each dermatome across the body. Clinicians can examine cutaneous sensation with a dermatome map as a method to localize lesions within main worried tissue, injury to particular spine nerves, and to determine the extent of the injury. A number of dermatome maps have been developed over the years but are frequently contrasting.
The most commonly utilized dermatome maps in major textbooks 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 medical practice. This post will examine the dermatomes utilizing both maps, determining and comparing the significant differences in between them.
Why Are Dermatomes Important?
To comprehend dermatomes, it is essential to understand the anatomy of the spine. The spine is divided into 31 sections, each with a pair (right and left) of posterior and anterior nerve roots. The kinds of nerves in the posterior and anterior 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 anterior and posterior nerve roots integrate on each side to form the spine nerves as they leave the vertebral canal (the bones of the spine, or backbone).