Which dermatome level corresponds to the dorsal/palmar surface of the thumb?

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Multiple Choice

Which dermatome level corresponds to the dorsal/palmar surface of the thumb?

Explanation:
Dermatomes map skin sensation to specific spinal nerve roots, so testing where sensation is felt helps localize the level. The thumb, on both its dorsal and palmar surfaces, falls in the C6 dermatome. This means the C6 root supplies the skin of the thumb area, while more medial digits align with other levels (like C7 for the middle finger and C8 for the ring/little fingers). So sensation in the thumb is a direct cue to the C6 distribution; loss there would suggest a C6-related issue, whereas the other levels map to different parts of the hand.

Dermatomes map skin sensation to specific spinal nerve roots, so testing where sensation is felt helps localize the level. The thumb, on both its dorsal and palmar surfaces, falls in the C6 dermatome. This means the C6 root supplies the skin of the thumb area, while more medial digits align with other levels (like C7 for the middle finger and C8 for the ring/little fingers). So sensation in the thumb is a direct cue to the C6 distribution; loss there would suggest a C6-related issue, whereas the other levels map to different parts of the hand.

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