Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX USA) Practice

What area of the body does Dermatome C5 cover?

1. Thumb

2. Middle finger

3. Ring/little finger

4. Medial upper arm

The correct answer is: Thumb

Dermatome C5 primarily covers the area around the shoulder and the lateral aspect of the arm, generally extending to the lateral side of the forearm, with specific emphasis on the region that includes the deltoid and biceps area. It does not encompass the fingers specifically. The thumb, which is innervated primarily by C6, might be associated with some C5 input due to the overlap of dermatomes and the involvement of the radial nerve. However, the main sensory input for the thumb transitions into C6 rather than being directly tied to C5. In contrast, the middle finger is closely associated with the C7 dermatome, while the ring and little fingers are primarily linked to the C8 and T1 dermatomes. The medial upper arm is typically supplied by the T1 dermatome, as it does not fall under the influence of C5. Therefore, while C5 has important functions in shoulder movement and sensation, it is not the correct dermatome for sensation in the thumb specifically. The more accurate association for thumb sensation would lean towards C6.