Dermatomes Flashcards
1
Q
What is a dermatome?
A
A dermatome is an area of skin which is predominantly supplied by a single spinal nerve.
2
Q
What are the possible indicators for a positive dermatome test?
A
- They don’t feel the cotton wool
- It feels different i.e. burning, painful etc.
3
Q
What does a positive dermatome test indicate?
A
impingement of the sensory afferent input to the CNS either from the mixed spinal nerve or the dorsal root as it exits the vertebral foramen
4
Q
What anatomical structure may be damaged to cause a positive test in a single dermatome?
A
dorsal root or the mixed spinal nerve
5
Q
What anatomical structure may be damaged if there is positive tests over numerous levels?
A
serious pathology - tumour in the spinal cord or upper motor neurone legion - e.g. stroke or MS
