Each spinal nerve carries feeling from one strip of skin. This strip is called a dermatome. If you know the landmarks, you can pinpoint a spinal level. Tap a landmark.
C6 — thumb
key dermatome landmarks
The sensory examdermatomes & pathways
Landmark levels
Pain & temperatureCarried by the spinothalamic tract. It crosses in the cord. Test it with a pinprick and with warm or cold.
Touch, vibration & positionCarried by the dorsal columns. They cross in the medulla. Test them with a tuning fork and by sensing toe position.
📷 Reference image
A real labeled figure. Compare it with the interactive above.
The Sensory Exam — OpenStax, CC BY 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
