L5 S1 Dermatome Map

To understand dermatomes, we must appreciate the body as a “map”. Your pns functions to link the rest of your body with your cns. The tops of the feet and the fronts of the lower legs;

L5 buttock, posterior and lateral thigh, lateral aspect of leg, dorsum of foot, medial half of sole, first, second, and third toes sacral: A dermatome is defined as ‘ a strip of skin that is innervated by a single spinal nerve ‘. The medial epicondyle of the femur.

L4 medial aspect of the leg.

An approximate guide is as follows: The medial side of the lower leg was subserved by l4 in 88%, the side of the first dorsal digit was subserved by l5 in 82%, and the side of the fifth digit was subserved by s1 in 83%. There are five pairs from the sacrum (part of the pelvis), numbered s1 through s5. The term “dermatome” is a combination of two ancient greek words;