The thoracic dermatomes are horizontal, band-like strips across the trunk.
+---------------------------------------+ | Thoracic Spine | +---------------------------------------+ | T1 | T2 | T3 | T4 | T5 | T6 | | | | | | | | | | | | T7 | T8 | T9 | T10 | T11 | T12 | +---------------------------------------+ | | | | | Anterior | Posterior | Rami | (front) | (back) | | | | | +---------------------------------------+ | Intercostal | Posterior | Lateral | Nerves | Cutaneous | Cutaneous +---------------------------------------+ | | | | Abdominal | Muscles | Muscles | +---------------------------------------+ thoracic nerve diagram
Here's a simplified diagram of the thoracic nerves: Physiopedia Dermatomes - Physiopedia Some key branches of
A thoracic nerve diagram typically maps out the specific "bands" or regions each nerve controls. These are categorized by their motor (movement) and sensory (feeling) roles. Physiopedia Dermatomes - Physiopedia The thoracic dermatomes are horizontal
Some key branches of the thoracic nerves include:
| Nerve | Lesion / Irritation | Clinical Finding | |-------|--------------------|------------------| | Any intercostal | Herpes zoster (shingles) | Vesicular rash in a single dermatome (e.g., T4–T6 most common) | | T2–T3 | Lung cancer (Pancoast tumor) | Pain down medial arm (T2) + Horner’s syndrome (sympathetic chain) | | T7–T11 | Post-thoracotomy pain | Numbness or neuralgia along thoracoabdominal nerves | | T10 | Abdominal surgery | Loss of sensation at umbilicus; reflex (contraction on stroking) lost | | T12 | Subcostal nerve entrapment | Pain in lower quadrant (mimics appendicitis) |