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 below the suboccipital triangle beneath the obliquus capitis inferior muscle. It then passes through the semispinalis muscle before ascending 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.
Video Greater occipital nerve
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.
Maps Greater occipital nerve
Occipital pain management
Most people with tension headaches experience increasing intensity with time, and report pain originating in the back of the head (occipital) moving to the front of the head (supraorbital). Neurostimulation is sometimes used to treat tension headaches that originate from the occipital nerve.
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Additional images
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
Source of article : Wikipedia
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