Lesser auricular nerve
Lesser Auricular Nerve is a branch of the cervical plexus, a network of nerve fibers that originates from the upper part of the spinal cord. It is responsible for transmitting sensory information from the skin of the ear and the area around the ear to the brain.
Etymology[edit | edit source]
The term "auricular" comes from the Latin word "auricula", which means "ear". The prefix "lesser" is used to distinguish this nerve from the greater auricular nerve, another branch of the cervical plexus that also innervates the ear.
Anatomy[edit | edit source]
The lesser auricular nerve originates from the second and third cervical spinal nerves (C2 and C3). It ascends along the posterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle, a large muscle on the side of the neck, to reach the ear. The nerve then divides into two branches: one innervates the skin over the mastoid process (a bony prominence behind the ear), and the other supplies the skin of the upper and back part of the auricle, the visible part of the ear.
Function[edit | edit source]
The primary function of the lesser auricular nerve is sensory. It carries sensory information, such as touch and temperature, from the skin of the ear and the area around the ear to the brain. This allows us to perceive sensations in these areas.
Clinical Significance[edit | edit source]
Damage to the lesser auricular nerve can result in loss of sensation in the areas of the skin it innervates. This can occur due to trauma, surgery, or conditions that affect the nerves, such as neuropathy. In some cases, damage to this nerve can also cause ear pain, a condition known as auricular neuralgia.
Related Terms[edit | edit source]
- Cervical plexus
- Greater auricular nerve
- Sternocleidomastoid muscle
- Mastoid process
- Auricle (anatomy)
- Neuropathy
- Auricular neuralgia
Lesser auricular nerve Resources | ||
---|---|---|
|
|
Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD