Each spinal nerve carries sensation from a specific strip of skin — a dermatome. Knowing the landmarks lets you pinpoint a spinal level. Tap a landmark.
C6 — thumb
key dermatome landmarks
The sensory examdermatomes & pathways
Landmark levels
Pain & temperatureCarried by the spinothalamic tract. Crosses at the cord — tested with a pinprick and warm/cold.
Touch, vibration & positionCarried by the dorsal columns. Crosses in the medulla — tested with a tuning fork and toe position.
📷 Reference image
A real labeled figure to compare with the interactive above.
The Sensory Exam — OpenStax, CC BY 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
