dermatomes
Nerve-mapped skin regions
Dermatomes are areas of skin supplied by sensory nerve fibers from a single spinal nerve root.
The body can be mapped into these zones, each corresponding to a specific vertebral level.
Doctors test dermatomes to locate spinal injuries or nerve damage: Loss of sensation in the L4 dermatome suggests a problem at that level.
In surgery, a dermatome is also a tool for cutting thin slices of skin for grafts.
Paired vertebral neural branches
- nerve rootsSpinal cord branch points
- cervicalOf the neck
- thoracicOf the chest region
- lumbarOf the lower spine
sacral · coccygeal · vertebrae · plexus · innervation · segmental · neuroanatomy · homunculus
Compressed spinal nerve condition
- shinglesOverlapping roof cladding
- herpes zosterViral nerve inflammation with rash
- varicella-zosterHerpes causing pox, shingles
- sciaticaLumbar nerve inflammation
nerve compression · pinched nerve · disc herniation · sensory loss · referred pain · neuralgia · neuropathy · paresthesia
Perceiving through physical contact
- temperatureMeasured heat intensity
- pressureForce upon contact
- painBodily or emotional distress
- vibrationRapid oscillating movement
sensitivity · tactile · afferent · receptors · stimulus · perception · numbness · tingling
Division into sections
- developmentProgress toward maturity
- differentiationRecognizing meaningful differences
- embryonicAt earliest developmental stage
- fetalOf the unborn
organogenesis · morphogenesis · body plan · patterning · Hox genes
spinal nerves
Paired vertebral neural branches
- nerve rootsSpinal cord branch points
- cervicalOf the neck
- thoracicOf the chest region
lumbar · sacral · coccygeal · vertebrae · plexus · innervation · segmental · neuroanatomy · homunculus · somatic
radiculopathy
Compressed spinal nerve condition
- shinglesOverlapping roof cladding
- herpes zosterViral nerve inflammation with rash
- varicella-zosterHerpes causing pox, shingles
sciatica · nerve compression · pinched nerve · disc herniation · sensory loss · referred pain · neuralgia · neuropathy · paresthesia · numbness
touch
Perceiving through physical contact
- temperatureMeasured heat intensity
- pressureForce upon contact
- painBodily or emotional distress
vibration · sensitivity · tactile · afferent · receptors · stimulus · perception · numbness · tingling · anesthesia
segmentation
Division into sections
- developmentProgress toward maturity
- differentiationRecognizing meaningful differences
- embryonicAt earliest developmental stage
fetal · organogenesis · morphogenesis · body plan · patterning · Hox genes