Nerve Roots

Dermatomes, Myotomes, Reflexes, and Paresthetic Areas

Nerve
Dermatome Myotome Reflexes Affected Paresthesias
Root
C1 Vertex of skull None None None
Longus colli, sternocleidomastoid,
C2 Temple, forehead, occiput None None
rectus capitis
Entire neck, posterior cheek,
C3 temporal area, prolongation foreward Trapezius, splenius capitis None Cheek, side of neck
under mandible
Shoulder area, clavicular area, upper Horizontal band along clavicle
C4 Trapezius, levator scapulae None
scapular area and upper scapula
Deltoid area, anterior aspect of entire Supraspinatus, infraspinatus, deltoid,
C5 Biceps, brachioradialis None
arm to base of thumb biceps
Anterior arm, radial side of hand to
C6 Biceps, supinator, wrist extensors Biceps, brachioradialis Thumb and index finger
thumb and index finger
Lateral arm and forearm to index, Triceps, wrist flexors (rarely, wrist
C7 Triceps Index, long, and ring fingers
long, and ring fingers extensors)
little finger alone or with two
Medial arm and forearm to long, ring, Ulnar deviators, thumb extensors, adjacent fingers; not ring or
C8 Triceps
and little fingers thumb adductors (rarely, triceps) long fingers, alone or together
(C7)
elbow flexion with arm horizontal,
Medial side of forearm to base of
T1 scapulae forward and backward on None None
little finger
chest wall, neck flexion
Medial side of upper arm to medial
Scapulae moving foreward and
T2 elbow, pectoral and midscapular None None
backward on chest wall, neck flexion
areas
T3-T6, upper thorax; T5-T7, costal
T3-T12 margin; T8-T12, abdomen and None None None
lumbar region
Groin; after holding posture
L1 Back, over trochanter and groin None None
which causes pain
L2 Back, front of thigh to knee Psoas, hip adductors None Occasionally anterior thigh
 Back, upper buttock, anterior thigh Knee jerk sluggish, prone knee
L3 Psoas, quadriceps, thigh atrophy Medial knee, anterior lower leg
and knee, medial lower leg bend positive, pain on full SLR
SLR limited, neck flexion
Medial buttock, lateral thigh, medial
L4 Tibialis anterior, extensor hallucis pain, weak or absent knee jerk, Medial aspect of calf and ankle
leg, dorsum of foot, big toe
side flexion limited
Buttock, posterior and lateral thigh, SLR limited one side, neck
Extensor hallucis, peroneals, gluteus
lateral aspect of leg, dorsum of foot, flexion painful, ankle Lateral aspect of leg, medial
L5 medius, dorsiflexors, hamstring and
medial half of sole, first, second, and decreased, crossed-leg raising three toes
calf atrophy
third toes pain
Lateral two toes, lateral foot,
Calf and hamstring, wasting of SLR limited, Achilles reflex
S1 Buttock, thigh, and leg posterior lateral leg to knee, plantar
gluteals, peroneals, plantar flexors weak or absent
aspect of foot
Calf and hamstring, wasting of SLR limited, Achilles reflex
S2 Buttock, thigh, and leg posterior Lateral leg, knee, and heel
gluteals, plantar flexors weak or absent
S3 Groin, medial thigh to knee None None None
Saddle area, genitals, anus
S4 Perineum, ganitals, lower sacrum Bladder, rectum None impotence, massive posterior
herniation