Peripheral nerve field refers to an area of skin innervated by a single peripheral nerve. A peripheral nerve field can also be described as cutaneous nerve distribution.

An area innervated by a single dorsal root

Dorsal root

In anatomy and neurology, the dorsal root is the afferentsensory root of a spinal nerve.At the distal end of the dorsal root is the dorsal root ganglion, which contains the neuron cell bodies of the nerve fibres conveyed by the root.If the dorsal root of a spinal nerve were severed it would lead...

 is called a dermatome

Dermatome

Dermatome may refer to:*Dermatome , a surgical instrument used to produce thin slices of skin*Dermatome , an area of skin that is supplied by a single pair of dorsal roots*Dermatome...

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Neurologist

Neurologist

A neurologist is a physician who specializes in neurology, and is trained to investigate, or diagnose and treat neurological disorders.Neurology is the medical specialty related to the human nervous system. The nervous system encompasses the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves. A specialist...

s rely on maps of dermatomes and peripheral nerve fields to diagnose areas of nerve damage

Nerve Damage

Nerve Damage is a compilation album by Groove Metal band Skinlab, released in 2004. It is a 2CD collection of rare and unreleased material, including a live set, demos, remixes, alternate mixes, and two new tracks.-Disc 1:# "Losing All" – 4:04...

 based on somasthetic or proprioceptive deficits

Proprioception

Proprioception , from Latin proprius, meaning "one's own" and perception, is the sense of the relative position of neighbouring parts of the body and strength of effort being employed in movement...

 in specific dermatomes and peripheral nerve fields. Although areas of innervation are somewhat consistent following genetically determined patterns of the species , specific areas of innervation are as unique to an individual as are fingerprint

Fingerprint

A fingerprint in its narrow sense is an impression left by the friction ridges of a human finger. In a wider use of the term, fingerprints are the traces of an impression from the friction ridges of any part of a human hand. A print from the foot can also leave an impression of friction ridges...

s.

See also

• Nervous system