Cat hindlimb tactile dermatomes determined with single-unit recordings

Abstract

1. Single-unit recording from dorsal root ganglia was used to determine the dermatomes of L4-S2 segments in the cat. Dermatomes for low-threshold myelinated mechanoreceptor afferents are smaller than those reported in earlier studies of whole-root dermatomes. There are also sufficient discrepancies among earlier studies and with the present data to merit reexamination of hindlimb whole-root dermatomes. 2. Receptive-field size varies directly with distance from toes. Length/width ratio is essentially constant for different parts of the hindlimb. 3. Estimates of innervation density verify the long-standing assumption that innervation density is greater for foot and toes than for proximal hindlimb, at least for low-threshold cutaneous myelinated afferents.