nerves

Question 1

what does the dorsal rami supply?

Answer 1

The posterior muscles of the back and the skin surrounding it.
So the erector spinae

Question 2

what does the ventral rami supply

Answer 2

The anterior muscles of the trunk: The oblique and rectus abdomens and the intercostal muscles.
The spinal nerves supplying the intercostal muscles-between the ribs are known as the intercostal nerves. The nerve BELOW each rib has the same number as it.

Question 3

Which are the lower 6 intercostal nerves?

what else do they supply?

Answer 3

T7-T12

They supply the anterior addominal wall.

Question 4

what is a cutaneous nerve

Answer 4

nerves which supply an area of skin over a muscle.
Contain varying amount of fibre
Not specific to spinal level

Question 5

what is a dermatome?

Answer 5

Joined up strip of skin which is supplied by fibres all coming from one single spinal nerve.
They overlap- so if nerve supply to one dermatome is lost- there will only be loss in sensitivity -not complete loss.