How Do You Spell DERMATOMA?

Pronunciation: [dˌɜːmɐtˈə͡ʊmə] (IPA)

Dermatoma (dɛrməˈtoʊmə) is a medical term that refers to an area of skin that is supplied by a single spinal nerve. The word is derived from the Greek terms "derma" meaning skin and "tome" meaning a cut. The spelling of "dermatoma" follows the principles of English phonetics, with the letter "m" being used to represent the sound of "muh" at the end of the word. This word is commonly used in medical jargon and is an important diagnostic tool for identifying skin sensation abnormalities caused by nerve damage.

DERMATOMA Meaning and Definition

1. A dermatoma refers to a specific area of skin that is innervated by a single spinal nerve, which is part of the larger peripheral nervous system. This refers to the sensory distribution of nerves on the skin, meaning each dermatome corresponds to a particular segment of the spinal cord. The human body has multiple dermatomes, each responsible for providing sensation to a specific region of the body.

   Dermatomas are important in medical practice as they help diagnose and locate potential nerve damage or disorders. By analyzing the area of skin affected and determining the associated dermatome, healthcare professionals can gain insight into the affected spinal nerve and potential underlying conditions.

   Furthermore, dermatome maps have been created to visually represent the sensory areas and their corresponding spinal nerve levels. These maps allow physicians to identify patterns or abnormalities easily. As an example, someone experiencing pain or numbness in a specific dermatomal region could signal a compressed nerve, such as those caused by conditions like herniated discs or shingles.

   Understanding the concept of dermatomes is crucial in assessing neurological issues and aiding in the diagnosis and treatment of related conditions. By recognizing the relationship between sensory disturbances in specific areas of the skin and their corresponding spinal nerve segments, healthcare providers can offer more targeted and effective interventions.

2. A circumscribed thickening or hypertrophy of the skin.

   A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

Common Misspellings for DERMATOMA

• sermatoma
• xermatoma
• cermatoma
• fermatoma
• rermatoma
• eermatoma
• dwrmatoma
• dsrmatoma
• ddrmatoma
• drrmatoma
• d4rmatoma
• d3rmatoma
• deematoma
• dedmatoma
• defmatoma
• detmatoma
• de5matoma
• de4matoma
• dernatoma
• derkatoma

Etymology of DERMATOMA

The word "dermatoma" is derived from two Greek words: "derma" meaning "skin" and "tome" meaning "a cutting or incision". Together, they form "dermatoma", which refers to a specific region of skin supplied by a single spinal nerve.

Similar spelling words for DERMATOMA

• Dermotomy,
• dermatome,
• dharmatma,
• dreamtime,
• Durematoma,
• termtime,
• dreamteam.