Overview
This lecture provides mnemonics and gestures to help remember the key myotome levels for both the upper and lower limbs.
Upper Limb Myotomes & Mnemonics
- C2: "Look at your shoe" — cervical flexion (neck down).
- C3: "A fallen tree" — cervical lateral flexion (neck side).
- C4: "I'm not sure" — shoulder elevation (shrugging).
- C5: "Arms out wide" — shoulder abduction (lifting arms sideways).
- C6: "Smell your wrist" — wrist extension and elbow flexion.
- C7: "No zombies in heaven" — wrist flexion and elbow extension.
- C8: "You're doing great" — thumb extension and sometimes ulnar deviation (thumbs up).
- T1: "One and done" — finger abduction (spread fingers).
Lower Limb Myotomes & Mnemonics
- L2: "Lifts your shoe" — hip flexion (leg lifts).
- L3: "Extends the knee" — knee extension (straighten knee).
- L4: "Stops the door" — ankle dorsiflexion (lift foot upward).
- L5: "The toes divide" — great toe (big toe) extension.
- S1: "Can lift a ton" — plantar flexion (tiptoe, calf muscles strong).
- S2: "Coming back to you" — knee flexion (heel toward backside).
Key Terms & Definitions
- Myotome — group of muscles innervated by a single spinal nerve root.
- Flexion — bending a joint to decrease the angle.
- Extension — straightening a joint to increase the angle.
- Abduction — movement away from the midline of the body.
- Adduction — movement toward the body's midline.
- Dorsiflexion — raising the foot upwards toward the shin.
- Plantar flexion — pointing the foot downward.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Practice repeating the mnemonics and gestures for each myotome level.
- Review these myotome associations before your next test.