[Cutaneous territory of the posterior branches of spinal nerves. A review of Dejerine's scheme].

This report concerns not only anatomical study of posterior branches of the spinal nerves, but has also a clinical aim. The cutaneous territories and the sites of pain irradiation are precised. In the cervico-thoracic region emphasis is placed on the importance of the fourth cervical posterior branch and of the second dorsal posterior branch. At the lumbar and sacral levels the authors distinguish three pain pathways: from up to down and from outside to inside: the first corresponding to posterior branches of 11th and 12th dorsal nerves, the second to those of first, second and third lumbar nerves and the third to sacral nerves.