Dermatomes of the body.

A dermatome is a specific area of the skin that sends sensory information through a spinal nerve to the spinal cord. Each dermatome is named according to the level at which the spinal nerve enters the spinal cord. C stands for the spinal cord at the level of the neck (the combining form cervic/o- means neck). T stands for the spinal cord at the level of the thorax. L stands for the spinal cord at the level of the lower back. S stands for the spinal cord at the level of the sacrum (last bone in the spinal column). The skin of the face sends sensory information through the cranial nerves to the brain.