Summary
Knowledge of segmental innervation of skeletal muscles is essential for diagnosing lumbar radiculopathy. Myotomes and dermatomes are traditionally thought to be innervated by a single spinal segment, but experimental studies have shown that this pattern of segmental innervation allows considerable overlap. This implies that muscles (or dermatomes) are innervated not only by axons of one spinal segment, but also partially by axons of adjacent spinal levels. We describe a patient in whom overlap in segmental innervation complicated adequate diagnosis of a recurrent lumbar hernia. Further, we present an outline of electrophysiological and anatomical studies on segmental innervation.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
References
C Chotigavanich S Sawangnatra (1992) ArticleTitleAnomalies of the lumbosacral nerve roots. An anatomic investigation Clin Orthop 278 46–50 Occurrence Handle1563168
O Foerster (1933) ArticleTitleThe dermatomes in man Brain 56 1–39
H Head AW Campbell (1900) ArticleTitleThe pathology of herpes zoster and its bearing on sensory localization Brain 23 353–523
LJ Kadish EHJ Simmons (1984) ArticleTitleAnomalies of the lumbosacral nerve roots. An anatomical investigation and myelographic study Bone Joint Surg Br 66 411–416 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BiuB3M3mslA%3D
S Kikuchi M Hasue K Nishiyama T Ito (1984) ArticleTitleAnatomic and clinical studies of radicular symptoms Spine 9 23–30 Occurrence Handle6719254 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BiuC1MnntFQ%3D
R Liguori C Krarup W Trojaborg (1992) ArticleTitleDetermination of the segmental sensory and motor innervation of the lumbosacral spinal nerves. An electrophysiological study Brain 115 915–934 Occurrence Handle1628208
JA McCulloch G Waddell (1980) ArticleTitleVariation of the lumbosacral myotomes with bony segmental anomalies J Bone Joint Surg Br 62-B 475–480 Occurrence Handle7430228 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:Bi6D2cjgsFU%3D
AN Nemecek AM Avellino R Goodkin J Little M Kliot (2003) ArticleTitleMapping dermatomes during selective dorsal rhizotomy: case report and review of the literature Surg Neurol 60 292–297 Occurrence Handle14505840 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0090-3019(03)00238-6
LH Phillips Suffix2nd TS Park (1991) ArticleTitleElectrophysiologic mapping of the segmental anatomy of the muscles of the lower extremity Muscle Nerve 14 1213–1218 Occurrence Handle1766452 Occurrence Handle10.1002/mus.880141213
LR Robinson (2000) ArticleTitleTraumatic injury to peripheral nerves Muscle Nerve 23 863–873 Occurrence Handle10842261 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3czgtlSjtg%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10.1002/(SICI)1097-4598(200006)23:6<863::AID-MUS4>3.0.CO;2-0
WJ Sharrard (1955) ArticleTitleThe distribution of the permanent paralysis in the lower limb in poliomyelitis: a clinical and pathological study J Bone Joint Surg Br 37-B 540–558 Occurrence Handle13271481 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:CymD38zltVc%3D
CS Sherrington (1892) ArticleTitleNotes on the arrangement of some motor fibers in the lumbo-sacral plexus J Physiol 13 621–772
Thage O (1965) The myotomes L2-S2 in man. Acta Neurol Scand [Suppl 13] Pt 1: 241–243
BE Tsao KH Levin RA Bodner (2003) ArticleTitleComparison of surgical and electrodiagnostic findings in single root lumbosacral radiculopathies Muscle Nerve 27 60–64 Occurrence Handle12508296 Occurrence Handle10.1002/mus.10291
A Young J Getty A Jackson E Kirwan M Sullivan CW Parry (1983) ArticleTitleVariations in the pattern of muscle innervation by the L5 and S1 nerve roots Spine 8 616–624 Occurrence Handle6648707 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BiuD2szltFU%3D
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Voermans, N., Koetsveld, A. & Zwarts, M. Segmental overlap: foot drop in S1 radiculopathy. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 148, 809–813 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-006-0754-0
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-006-0754-0