The cutaneous nerve is the type of nerve that controls the skin.
Cutaneous nerves are sensory nerves responsible for providing tactile information, including touch, pressure, temperature, and pain, from specific areas of the skin to the central nervous system. They are branches of larger peripheral nerves. Here's a more detailed breakdown:
- Sensory Function: These nerves primarily function to detect stimuli on the skin's surface and transmit that information to the brain for processing.
- Specific Areas: Each cutaneous nerve innervates a specific region of the skin, known as a dermatome. Dermatomes are areas of skin that are mainly supplied by a single spinal nerve.
- Branches of Peripheral Nerves: Cutaneous nerves originate as branches from major peripheral nerves, which in turn stem from the spinal cord. For example, the radial nerve has a cutaneous branch that supplies sensation to part of the back of the hand.
In summary, while various nerves contribute to the overall function and health of the skin (including autonomic nerves that control blood vessels and glands), the cutaneous nerves are specifically responsible for sensory perception in the skin.
