Final answer:
A dermatome is the area of the body mainly supplied by a single spinal nerve and spinal cord segment. The spinal cord is divided into regions that serve different parts of the body, with motor neurons in the ventral horn controlling skeletal muscles.
Step-by-step explanation:
An area of the body that is supplied mainly from one spinal segment through a particular spinal nerve is identified as a dermatome. The spinal cord is functionally organized into segments that correspond with the vertebrae, and each spinal cord segment connects to a specific part of the body through peripheral nerves. The spinal cord consists of different regions: cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral, each supplying nerves to different parts of the body through the intervertebral foramina. For example, the lumbar plexus supplies nerves to the anterior leg, while the sacral plexus supplies nerves to the posterior leg. Additionally, motor neurons responsible for directing the movement of skeletal muscles are located in the ventral (anterior) horn of the spinal cord in these respective regions.