11/24/2025
WHAT PART OF YOUR SPINE CONTROLS WHAT PART OF YOUR BODY? (Dermatomes Explained!)
Ever wonder why a herniated disk in your lower back makes pain shoot down your leg…or why a neck injury can make your hands go numb?
This chart shows dermatomes — the map of how your spinal nerves supply sensation to different areas of your body.
Each spinal level controls a specific “zone.”
And when that nerve is irritated or compressed… the symptoms show up in that exact region.
Here’s the quick breakdown:
Cervical Spine (C1–C8) — Neck, shoulders, arms, hands
• C2–C4: side of head, neck, shoulders
• C5–C6: upper arm & thumb
• C7: middle finger
• C8: ring & pinky fingers
If your hand tingles or goes numb, doctors can often pinpoint the exact nerve just from the pattern.
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Thoracic Spine (T1–T12) — Chest & trunk
• These nerves wrap around the chest like a rib-cage “belt”
• T4: ni**le line
• T10: belly button level
Pain around the ribs? Shingles often follows these nerve paths.
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Lumbar Spine (L1–L5) — Lower back, hips, legs
• L3: front of thigh
• L4: knee
• L5: top of foot & big toe
Pain shooting down the front vs. side vs. back of your leg tells us exactly which disk is causing trouble.
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Sacral Spine (S1–S5) — Buttocks, back of legs, feet
• S1: outside foot & little toe
• S2–S4: buttocks & groin
• These levels also control bowel & bladder nerves.
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Why this matters:
When a patient says:
• “My thumb is numb” → likely C6
• “Pain shoots down my big toe” → likely L5
• “Back of my leg hurts” → likely S1
Chiropractors can diagnose spinal issues just from the pattern of symptoms.
