Dermatome - Definition

Dermatome has three meanings:

1. in surgery, a surgical instrument used for slicing skin in order to perform skin grafts. See dermatome (instrument)
2. in anatomy, an area of skin which is innervated by afferent nerve fibers coming to a single posterior spinal root. See dermatomic area.
3. in embryology, the lateral portion of a mesodermal somite, also called the cutis plate.