lesser occipital nerve

It arises from the (lateral branch of the ventral ramus) of cervical spinal nerve C2; it (sources differ) receives or may also receive fibres from cervical spinal nerve C3.{{Cite book |last=Standring |first=Susan |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1201341621 |title=Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice |year=2020 |isbn=978-0-7020-7707-4 |edition=42nd |location=[New York] |oclc=1201341621}}{{Cite book |last=Cesmebasi |first=Alper |chapter-url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780124103900000329 |title=Nerves and Nerve Injuries |publisher=Academic Press |year=2015 |isbn=978-0-12-410390-0 |volume=1: History, Embryology, Anatomy, Imaging, and Diagnostics |pages=441–449 |language=en |chapter=31 - Anatomy of the Cervical Plexus and Its Branches |doi=10.1016/B978-0-12-410390-0.00032-9}} It originates between the atlas, and axis.

The lesser occipital nerve is one of the four cutaneous branches of the cervical plexus.{{Cite book |last=Rea |first=Paul |title=Essential Clinically Applied Anatomy of the Peripheral Nervous System in the Head and Neck |publisher=Academic Press |year=2016 |isbn=978-0-12-803633-4 |pages=131–183 |language=en |chapter=3 - Neck |doi=10.1016/B978-0-12-803633-4.00003-X |chapter-url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B978012803633400003X}}

It curves around the accessory nerve (CN XI){{Cite book |last=Sinnatamby |first=Chummy S. |title=Last's Anatomy |publisher= Elsevier Australia|year=2011 |isbn=978-0-7295-3752-0 |edition=12th |pages=334}} to come to course anterior to it. It then curves around and ascends along the posterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle; rarely, it may pierce the muscle. Near the cranium, it perforates the deep cervical fascia. It is continued upwards along the scalp posterior to the auricle. It divides into medial and lateral segments between the inion, and intermastoid line.

It has an auricular, a mastoid, and an occipital branch.

Its auricular branch supplies the skin of the upper and back part of the auricula, communicating with the mastoid branch of the great auricular. This branch is occasionally derived from the greater occipital nerve.{{Citation needed|date=December 2022}}

The nerve provides sensory innervation to the upper part of the back of the neck and adjacent scalp posterior to the auricle; it may also contribute to the sensory innervation of the auricle itself.

It communicates with the greater occipital nerve, great auricular nerve, and the auricular branch of the facial nerve.

Rarely, the lesser occipital nerve may be duplicated or triplicated.

Problems with the lesser occipital nerve cause occipital neuralgia. Nerve block is difficult due to variation in the course of the nerve.

File:Gray784.png|Dermatome distribution of the trigeminal nerve

• {{SUNYAnatomyFigs|25|03|01}}
• http://www.dartmouth.edu/~humananatomy/figures/chapter_47/47-2.HTM
• http://www.dartmouth.edu/~humananatomy/figures/chapter_47/47-6.HTM

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Category:Optic nerve