Are your spinal nerves causing numbness and pain in your body? Let's learn about dermatomes!

Have you ever felt that one part of your arm or leg is constantly numb, or just hurts? Sometimes we think that there is a problem with that arm or leg. But the cause could actually be much further away, in a nerve that comes from your spine. Today we are going to talk about this wonderful 'nerve map' of our body. In medicine, we call this dermatome. This is a very interesting topic, let's see what it is.

Simply put, what is a dermatome?

A dermatome is the name given to a specific area of ​​skin on our body. But it's not just an area of ​​skin. Each of these areas is controlled, meaning that the sensations (feelings) of that area are carried to the brain by a specific nerve in our spine (spinal cord).

Think of it this way. Your spine is like a big highway. Information (nerve signals) travel up and down this highway, to the brain and to other parts of the body. There are little byways going in and out of this highway. Those byways are the spinal nerves that come out of our spine. Each byway is connected to a specific part of the body. That specific area of ​​skin is called a dermatome.

This relationship works both ways.

1. From brain to body: When you want to move your arm, the signal from your brain travels down your spine and through the appropriate nerve to the muscles in your arm.

2. From the body to the brain: If you drop hot water on your hand, the sensation travels from the skin through the relevant nerves to the spine and from there to the brain, causing you to feel "your hand is burning." This is how everything feels, including touch, cold, heat, and pain.

So, how is this dermatome map important to a doctor?

This is the most important thing. If you have numbness, pain, or loss of sensation anywhere on your body, your doctor can use this dermatome map to find out where the problem is.

Imagine that your thumb keeps going numb. When your doctor looks at the dermatome map, he knows that the nerve that supplies sensation to your thumb is the sixth cervical vertebra (C6). He may then suspect that the problem is not in your hand, but in your neck. Perhaps a disc between one of your cervical vertebrae has slipped and is pressing on the nerve.

How are these dermatomes located in our body?

Except for our face, our entire body is covered in dermatomes. (The facial nerves are connected directly to the brain, so they don't go through the spine.) These are like belts around our bodies.

To understand this, let's first learn about the parts of our spine.

• Cervical Spine: This is located in the neck. It has 7 vertebrae and 8 pairs of nerves (C1 to C8).
• Thoracic Spine: This is located in the upper and middle part of the back. It has 12 vertebrae and 12 pairs of nerves (T1 to T12).
• Lumbar Spine: This is located in your lower back. It has 5 vertebrae and 5 pairs of nerves (L1 to L5).
• Sacral Spine: This is where the spine connects to the hip bone. It has 5 vertebrae (which fuse together in adulthood) and 5 pairs of nerves (S1 to S5).
• Coccygeal Spine: This is our tailbone. It is made up of about 4 vertebrae fused together. It has one pair of nerves.

Now let's see which parts of the body each of these nerves connects to.

Dermatomes associated with the cervical nerves (Cervical Nerves - C1-C8)

The nerves coming from the neck are mainly connected to the head, neck, shoulders, arms, and fingers.

Dermatomes associated with the Thoracic Nerves (T1-T12)

These nerves are mainly connected to the chest, stomach, and back. They are like belts around the body.

Dermatomes associated with the Lumbar Nerves (L1-L5)

These nerves, which come from the lower back, are connected to the hips, legs, and feet.

Sacral & Coccygeal Nerves (S1-S5)

These nerves are connected to the buttocks, the back of the legs, and the genital area.

What conditions affect dermatomes?

A symptom of a dermatome is caused by a problem with the nerve or spinal cord that it is connected to. There are several reasons why such problems can occur:

• Accidents: Damage to the spine or nerve roots due to car accidents, falls, stabbings, etc.
• Spinal tumors or cancer: Tumors that develop in the spine can cause nerve compression.
• Infections: Bacterial or viral infections affecting the spine or nerves can cause swelling and pinch the nerves.
• Reduced blood supply (Ischemia): Blockage of blood vessels supplying the spine and nerves.
• Congenital conditions: Spinal deformities that occur at birth, such as spina bifida.
• Herniated Disk: We all know the condition called 'herniated disk.' In this case, a disc between the vertebrae bulges out and presses on a nerve.

Symptoms that may occur in a dermatome-related problem

These symptoms can be divided into three main categories.

What tests are done to find out these kinds of problems?

After your doctor has listened to your symptoms and examined you, he or she may refer you for tests like these to determine the exact cause.

• CT Scan (Computed Tomography): This can help to better assess the condition of the bones of the spine.
• MRI scan (Magnetic Resonance Imaging): This can take a very clear picture of not only the bones of the spine, but also the spinal cord, nerves, and cartilage discs.
• EMG test (Electromyogram): This tests the activity of nerves and muscles, that is, how electrical signals travel. This helps to determine exactly if a nerve has been damaged.

What should we do to protect our spine and nerves?

Dermatome is a story about the health of our spine. Therefore, keeping the spine healthy is the most important thing.

• Use safety measures: Wear a seat belt properly when riding in a vehicle. Wear a safety harness if working at height.
• Be careful when lifting weights: When lifting weights , bend your knees, not your back . Keep your back straight. Avoid lifting weights if you have back problems.
• Protect yourself from falls: Keep doors, especially in the bathroom and on stairs, non-slip. Install handrails if necessary.
• Keep your bones strong: Eat foods rich in calcium and vitamin D. Bone-thinning diseases like osteoporosis can cause the vertebrae to break easily.
• Maintain good posture: Keep your back straight while sitting and standing. Don't stay in the same position for too long. Get up and walk around at least once every half hour.

This concept of dermatomes is a good example of how complex and amazingly designed our bodies are. If you are experiencing numbness or pain like this, don't ignore it, and definitely see your doctor for advice.

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