Lecture 3 - Dermatomes and myotomes Flashcards
How many pairs of somites
34-35 pairs of somites (Day 30)
Sclerotome
Differentiated somite
Ventral
Gives rise to vertebrae and ribs
Dermatomyotome
Differentiated somite
Dorsal
Forms the dermis - dermatome
Forms the muscle - myotome
Why does the skin and muscle have the same common spinal nerve supply
Derived from the same dermatomyotome
Dermatome
Area of skin that is supplied by a single spinal nerve
T4/T5
Nipples
T10
Umbilicus
L1
Groin
Posterior (dorsal) rami
After emerging from the intervertebral foramina each nerve root divides into rami
Into medial and lateral branches that supply the skin and deep muscles of the back in a segmental manner
Each dorsal ramus supplies a narrow strip of muscle and skin in line with the intervertebral foramen
Anterior (ventral) rami
Complicated distribution
Segmental for the skin and muscle of the trunk
Supply both the anterior (ventral) and posterior (dorsal) skin of the upper and lower limb
C5-T1 - upper limbs (brachial plexus)
L1- S5 - lower limbs (lumbosacral plexus)
C5 - T1
Brachial plexus
Upper limbs
No cutaneous distribution on the trunk
L1-S5
Lumbosacral plexus
Lower limbs
Adjacent dermatomes in anterior trunk
C4 and T2
Functional overlap
Overlap between adjacent dermatomes
When a spinal nerve is damaged, the area that loses sensation (anaesthesia) is smaller than expected due to the overlap
Overlap does not extend across an axial line
Hilton’s Law
Nerve supplying the joint capsule also supplies th muscles moving the joint and the overlying skin
Neural level (clinical)
Lowest level of fully intact sensation and motor function