Dermatome Zones (Anterior)

The dermatome zones that are located on the front portions of the body, such as the belly and face. In the appendages, however, adjacent dermatome patterns overlap and the arrangement of the dermatomes is markedly different on the anterior portion of the body as opposed to the posterior aspect. Development of the peripheral nervous system will produce a pattern of skin innervated by cutaneous neurons of a certain spinal or cranial nerves; the resulting dermatomes represent specific regions...

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Full Dermatome Zones (Anterior) Description

[Continued from above] . . . of nerve reception of sensory impulses. The pattern of the dermatome is of major clinical significance when a physician desires to anesthetize a particular portion of the body. As certain areas of the body are much more sensitive than others, it is sometimes necessary to block more than one dermatome to produce a desired result. Because adjacent dermatomes overlap in the arms, legs, groin and buttocks areas, at least three spinal nerves must be blocked to achieve a loss of feeling in these regions.