Source: Academic Life in Emergency Medicine
Dermatomes
Testing Motor Function by Level
| C1-C4 | Spontaneous breathing |
| C5 | Shoulder abduction (deltoid) |
| C6 | Wrist extension (carpi radialis longus and brevis) |
| C7 | Elbow extension (triceps) |
| C8 | Finger flexion (flexor digitorum superficialis/profundis, lumbricals) |
| T1 | Finger adduction&abduction (dorsal/palmar interossei, abductor digiti quinti) |
| T1-T12 | Intercostal and abd muscle |
| T12-L3 | Hip flexion (iliopsoas) |
| L2-L4 | Hip flexion, knee extension (quadriceps), hip adduction |
| L4 | Ankle dorsiflexion and inversion (anterior tibialis) |
| L5 | Big toe extension (ext hallucis longus), heel walk (ext digitorum), hip abduction (gluteus medius) |
| S1 | Ankle plantarflexion and eversion (peroneus longus), toe walk (peroneus brevis), hip extension (gluteus maximus) |
| S2-S4 | Rectal sphincter tone |
Content on this page has not been checked for accuracy. The author's credentials have not been confirmed. Always use multiple peer-reviewed scholarly sources and good clinical judgement in your decision making.
The Compendium platform was created by David Kwinter, MD, CCFP(EM).
Dr. Kwinter is a Cayman Family Doctor. He runs a Family Medicine Clinic at Cayman Medical in George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands.
Dr. Kwinter is a Cayman Family Doctor. He runs a Family Medicine Clinic at Cayman Medical in George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands.