dermatome

noun

der·​ma·​tome ˈdər-mə-ˌtōm How to pronounce dermatome (audio)
: the lateral wall of a somite from which the dermis is produced
dermatomal
ˌdər-mə-ˈtō-məl How to pronounce dermatome (audio)
adjective

Examples of dermatome in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Shingles most commonly shows up in a band called a dermatome that goes from one side of your midsection around your waistline. — Korin Miller, Health.com, 21 Apr. 2021 Shingles is an exquisitely painful herpesvirus illness (herpes zoster virus, to be specific) that leads to pain along a nerve in a dermatome, followed by painful sores and blisters. — Nina Shapiro, Forbes, 20 Apr. 2021

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary dermat- + -ome

First Known Use

1910, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dermatome was in 1910

Rhymes for dermatome

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Browse Nearby Words

dermatology
dermatome
dermatomyces
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Cite this Entry

“Dermatome.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dermatome. Accessed 26 Mar. 2025.

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Medical Definition

dermatome

noun
der·​ma·​tome ˈdər-mə-ˌtōm How to pronounce dermatome (audio)
1
: an instrument for cutting skin for use in grafting
2
: the lateral wall of a somite from which the dermis is produced
dermatomal
ˌdər-mə-ˈtō-məl How to pronounce dermatome (audio)
adjective
or dermatomic
-mik How to pronounce dermatome (audio)

More from Merriam-Webster on dermatome

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about dermatome

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