Occipital nerve

Occipital Nerve

The course and connections of the facial nerve in the temporal bone (Occipital nerve not labeled, but region is visible.)

The Occipital Nerve is a set of nerves that run from the top of the spinal cord to the base of the neck and the scalp. There are two occipital nerves: the greater occipital nerve and the lesser occipital nerve. They are primarily responsible for the sensation in these areas.

Anatomy

The Greater Occipital Nerve originates from the medulla and travels through the muscles at the base of the neck, specifically the semispinalis capitis. It then ascends to the scalp, innervating the skin along its course.

The Lesser Occipital Nerve also originates from the medulla, but it travels along a different path, running up the side of the neck and innervating the area behind the ear.

Cutaneous nerves of the head. (Greater occipital nerve labeled at center, and lesser occipital nerve labeled at top.)

Clinical Significance

The occipital nerves can be involved in several medical conditions, including Occipital Neuralgia, a neurological condition characterized by severe pain in the upper neck, back of the head and behind the ears, often described as a piercing, throbbing, or electric-shock-like sensation.

See Also

• Nervous System
• Neurology
• Occipital Lobe
• Occipital Bone