Dermatomu

Dermatomu is not a standard term in English medical terminology. In most contemporary sources, the skin segment term used is dermatome, referring to a defined area of skin that is innervated by a single spinal nerve.

Etymology and usage vary by language. Dermatome derives from the Greek derma, meaning skin, and tome, meaning a cutting or section. The form dermatomu can appear in some languages as a grammatical case form of a similar noun or as an alternate transliteration, but it does not denote a separate anatomical concept in English medical literature.

Anatomy and clinical relevance. A dermatome is a map-like region of skin supplied by a single spinal nerve root. In humans there are defined dermatomal patterns corresponding to cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral nerve roots. These maps aid in neurologic assessment, helping to localize nerve or spinal pathology. For example, herpes zoster (shingles) typically produces a painful rash that follows a dermatomal distribution on one side of the body.

Variation and practical use. While standard dermatome maps provide general guides, individual variation exists, and some overlap between adjacent dermatomes is common. Clinicians use dermatomal patterns alongside other findings to diagnose radiculopathy, nerve injuries, or neurocutaneous conditions.

Summary. If encountered, dermatomu in a text likely reflects a grammatical variant in a non-English language or a misspelling of dermatome. The established concept for skin areas supplied by a single nerve is the dermatome. See also dermatomes, spinal nerve, radiculopathy, and herpes zoster.