dermatome

(noun)

An area of skin that is innervated by afferent nerve fibers coming to a single posterior spinal root.

Related Terms

Examples of dermatome in the following topics:

  • Dermatomes

    • A dermatome is an area of skin that is supplied by a single spinal nerve .
    • The dermatomes run longitudinally along the limbs, so that each half of the limb has a different dermatome.
    • The myotome is the motor equivalent of a dermatome.
    • The shingles rash appears across a dermatome.
    • Describe dermatomes and how they relate to the peripheral nervous system

  • Somite Development

    • They will eventually become dermis (dermatome), skeletal muscle (myotome), vertebrae (sclerotome), and tendons and cartilage (syndetome).
    • The dermatome is the dorsal portion of the paraxial mesoderm somite.
    • The dermatomes contribute to the skin, fat and connective tissue of the neck and of the trunk, though most of the skin is derived from lateral plate mesoderm.

  • Spinal Cord Compression

    • Example symptoms of cord compression include back pain, a dermatome of increased sensation, paralysis below the compression, decreased sensation below the compression, and more.
    • Symptoms suggestive of cord compression are back pain, a dermatome of increased sensation, paralysis of limbs below the level of compression, decreased sensation below the level of compression, urinary and fecal incontinence and/or urinary retention.

  • Shingles

    • The virus may spread from one or more ganglia along nerves of an affected segment and infect the corresponding dermatome (an area of skin supplied by one spinal nerve) causing a painful rash.

  • Spinal Cord Trauma

    • It is based on neurological responses, touch and pinprick sensations tested in each dermatome, and strength of 10 key muscles on each side of the body, including hip flexion (L2), shoulder shrug (C4), elbow flexion (C5), wrist extension (C6), and elbow extension (C7) (see for locations on spinal column).
    • A section of skin innervated through a specific part of the spine is called a dermatome.

  • Autonomic Reflexes

    • The pain is also usually referred to dermatomes that are at the same spinal nerve level as the visceral afferent synapse.

  • Skin Grafts

    • In order to remove the thin and well-preserved skin slices and strips from the donor, surgeons use a special surgical instrument called a dermatome .

  • Assessing CNS Disorders

    • Fine touch can be evaluated with a monofilament test, touching various dermatomes with a nylon monofilament to detect any subjective absence of touch perception.