Lesser Occipital Nerve - Podcast Version 0:00 / 0:00 1x 0.25x 0.5x 0.75x 1x 1.25x 1.5x 1.75x 2x The lesser occipital nerve is a nerve of the head and neck region. It supplies sensation to skin of the upper neck, posterior scalp and external ear. Pro Feature - 3D Model You've Discovered a Pro Feature Access our 3D Model Library Explore, cut, dissect, annotate and manipulate our 3D models to visualise anatomy in a dynamic, interactive way. Learn More Course The lesser occipital nerve arises from the cervical plexus of the neck. It mainly contains fibres from the ventral division of the C2 spinal nerve. It first passes anterior to the accessory nerve and then ascends along the posterior margin of the sternocleidomastoid. At the base of the skull, the lesser occipital nerve pierces the deep fascia to run in the subcutaneous plane of the scalp. It terminates by dividing into cutaneous branches which supply the upper neck, posterior scalp and external ear. These branches communicate with those of the greater auricular nerve and greater occipital nerve. By TeachMeSeries Ltd (2026) Fig 1Course of the lesser occipital nerve. It ascends the posterior border of the sternocleidomastoid to reach the base of the skull. Sensory Supply The lesser occipital nerve supplies sensation to skin of the upper neck, posterior scalp and external ear. Frequent questions What is the lesser occipital nerve? The lesser occipital nerve is a sensory nerve that provides sensation to the skin of the upper neck, posterior scalp, and external ear. It is part of the cervical plexus and primarily consists of fibres from the C2 spinal nerve. What areas does the lesser occipital nerve supply? The lesser occipital nerve supplies sensation to the skin of the upper neck, the posterior part of the scalp, and the external ear. Its branches communicate with the greater auricular and greater occipital nerves for enhanced sensory coverage. Where does the lesser occipital nerve originate? The lesser occipital nerve originates from the cervical plexus in the neck, specifically from the ventral division of the C2 spinal nerve. It ascends along the posterior margin of the sternocleidomastoid muscle before reaching the scalp. How does the lesser occipital nerve course through the neck? The lesser occipital nerve courses anterior to the accessory nerve and ascends along the sternocleidomastoid muscle. It then pierces the deep fascia at the base of the skull to enter the subcutaneous plane of the scalp. What is the clinical relevance of the lesser occipital nerve? The lesser occipital nerve is clinically relevant as it provides sensory innervation to areas that may be affected by conditions like nerve entrapment or trauma, leading to altered sensation in the upper neck and scalp. Understanding its course and supply is essential for diagnosing related issues. Rate This Article