Quick Facts
Origin: Posterior ramus of second cervical nerve.
Course: Ascends over the surface of obliquus capitis inferior muscle, deep to the semispinalis capitis.
Branches: Posterior cutaneous branch.
Supply: Motor innervation to obliquus capitis inferior and semispinalis capitis muscles. Sensory innervation to scalp and dura mater in the posterior cranial fossa.
Related parts of the anatomy
Origin
The greater occipital nerve (or the medial branch of the posterior ramus of the second cervical nerve) arises from the posterior ramus of the second cervical nerve. It is one of two branches, the other being the lateral branch.
Course
The greater occipital nerve ascends after emerging from below the obliquus capitis inferior muscle. It winds underneath the muscle and ascends between the obliquus capitis and semispinalis capitis muscles. It pierces the latter and emerges through the gap between the sternocleidomastoid and trapezius to reach the scalp.
Branches
The greater occipital nerve gives rise to a posterior cutaneous branch.
Supplied Structures
The greater occipital nerve provides motor innervation to the obliquus capitis inferior and semispinalis capitis muscles.
Somatic afferent neurons within the posterior cutaneous branch of the greater occipital nerve provide sensory innervation to the skin over the scalp and posterior auricular region.
The greater occipital nerve also provides sensory branches to the dura mater in the posterior cranial fossa and pain and proprioceptive branches to the first cervical nerve for the suboccipital muscles.
