Greater occipital nerve
| Nerve: Greater occipital nerve | |
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| 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 suboccipital 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.
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[edit] Clinical relevance
Disorder of this nerve is one of the causes of cervicogenic headaches, referred to as occipital neuralgias. A common site, and usually misdiagnosed area of entrapment for the greater occipital nerve is at the obliquus capitis inferior muscle.[1]
[edit] Notes
- ^ Sonography of the normal greater occipital nerve and obliquus capitis inferior muscle. Cho JC, Haun DW, Kettner NW, Scali F, Clark TB. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20544865
[edit] Additional images
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Dermatome distribution of the trigeminal nerve
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The nerves of the scalp, face, and side of neck.
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Lateral head anatomy detail
[edit] External links
- Image at theberries.ns.ca
- 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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