Greater occipital nerve

Nerve: Greater occipital nerve
Posterior primary divisions of the upper three cervical nerves. (Great occipital nerve labeled at center top.)
Gray's	subject #209 923
Innervates	semispinalis capitis, scalp
From	C2

The greater occipital nerve is a spinal nerve, specifically the medial branch of the dorsal primary ramus of cervical spinal nerve 2. This nerve arises from between the first and second cervical vertebrae, along with the lesser occipital nerve. It ascends after emerging from the subocciptal triangle obliquely between the inferior oblique and semispinalis capitis muscle. It then passes through the trapezius muscle and ascends to innervate the skin along the posterior part of the scalp to the vertex. It innervates the scalp at the top of the head, over the ear and over the parotid glands.

Clinical relevance

Disorder of this nerve is one of the causes of cervicogenic headaches, referred to as occipital neuralgias.

Additional images

Dermatome distribution of the trigeminal nerve

The nerves of the scalp, face, and side of neck.

Lateral head anatomy detail

External links

• Image at theberries.ns.ca
• Greater+occipital+nerve at eMedicine Dictionary
• http://www.dartmouth.edu/~humananatomy/figures/chapter_47/47-2.HTM
• http://www.dartmouth.edu/~humananatomy/figures/chapter_47/47-6.HTM

This neuroscience article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v • d • e