Dermatome
Pronunciation: DUR-mah-tohm
An area of skin supplied by sensory fibres from a single spinal nerve root, relevant in dermatology for mapping nerve-mediated skin conditions such as herpes zoster.
Full Definition
A dermatome is the cutaneous territory innervated by a specific dorsal root ganglion and its corresponding spinal nerve. In clinical dermatology, the term is essential when describing the distribution of herpes zoster (shingles), which classically follows a single dermatome. Editors working with neurology–dermatology crossover content must be careful not to confuse 'dermatome' with the surgical instrument of the same name used for harvesting skin grafts — context determines meaning. In anatomical diagrams and clinical case reports, dermatome distributions are labeled with alphanumeric codes (e.g., T4, L2). The term is always lower case in running text unless beginning a sentence.
Usage
Usage note: Context-dependent homonym: 'dermatome' also refers to a surgical blade for skin grafting. Verify intended meaning before editing.
In Context
- "The vesicular eruption followed the distribution of the T5 dermatome, indicating herpes zoster reactivation." — Clinical case report
- "Authors must specify whether 'dermatome' refers to the anatomical territory or the skin-grafting instrument." — Editorial style note