Myotomes

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Commonly Tested Movements

Commonly tested movements. UMN column are movements that are preferentially weak in UMN lesions

Movement	UMN	Root	Reflex	Nerve	Muscle
Shoulder abduction	++	C5		Axillary	Deltoid
Elbow flexion		C5/6 C6	+ +	Musculocutaneous Radial	Biceps Brachioradialis
Elbow extension	+	C7	+	Radial	Triceps
Radial wrist extension	+	C6		Radial	Extensor carpi radialis longus
Finger extension	+	C7		Posterior interosseous nerve	Extensor digitorum communis
Finger flexion		C8	+	Anterior interosseous nerve Ulnar	Flexor pollicis longus and flexor digitorum profundus (index) Flexor digitorum profundus (ring and little)
Finger abduction	++	T1 T1		Ulnar Median	First dorsal interosseous Abductor pollicis brevis
Hip flexion	++	L1/2			Iliopsoas
Hip adduction		L2/3	+	Obturator	Adductors
Hip extension		L5/S1		Sciatic	Gluteus Maximus
Knee flexion	+	S1		Sciatic	Hamstrings
Knee extension		L3/4	+	Femoral	Quadriceps
Ankle dorsiflexion	++	L4		Deep peroneal	Tibialis anterior
Ankle eversion		L5/S1		Superficial peroneal	Peronei
Ankle plantarflexion		S1/S2	+	Tibial	Gastrocnemius, soleus
Big toe extension		L5		Deep peroneal	Extensor hallucis longus

Myotome Dance

• C1, 2 – I nod to you – Neck flexion/extension
• C3 – Don’t tickle me – Neck lateral flexion
• C4 – I’m not sure – Shoulder elevation
• C5 – Feel alive – Shoulder flexion, abduction, & lateral rotation
• C6, 7, 8 – Close the gate – Shoulder extension, adduction & medial rotation
• C5, 6 – Pick up sticks – Elbow flexion
• C7, 8 – Lay them straight – Elbow extension
• C5, 6 – Flick my wrists – Forearm supination
• C7, 8 – The time is late – Forearm pronation
• C6, 7 – Fly up to heaven – Wrist flexion & extension
• C7 – Paper – Finger extension
• C8 – Rock – Finger flexion (though some sources say C7, 8 does both finger extension and flexion)
• T1 – Scissors – Finger abduction & adduction

• (T1-12 – Supplies chest wall and abdominal muscles)
• (L1 – Contributes to hip flexion & adduction)

Kicking a ball:

• L2, 3 – Lift my knee – Hip flexion
• L3, 4 – Kick the door – Knee extension (& knee-jerk reaction)
• L4, 5 – Foot points to the sky – Ankle dorsiflexion

Bringing foot back to the floor:

• L4, 5 – Extend my thigh – Hip extension
• L5, S1, (S2) – Kick my bum (Run to poo) – Knee flexion
• S1, 2 – Stand on my shoes – Ankle plantarflexion (& ankle jerk)
• (Babinski plantar reflex/extensor response in UMN lesion is L5, S1, S2)

• L2, 3, 4 – Modestly close the door – Hip adduction & internal/medial rotation
• L4 - S2 – The opposite is true – Hip abduction & external/lateral rotation

• C3, 4, 5 - Keeps the diaphragm alive → Innervates the diaphragm
• S2, 3, 4 – Keeps poo off the floor → Innervates bowel, bladder, sex organs, anal sphincter, pelvic muscles. (& anal wink reflex)