What Occipital Nerve

Occipital Nerve

- Branches of C2 – C3 rami meningei

These give off meningeal branches to the dura as far back as the internal occipital protuberance.

Posterior Primary Rami

• Lateral branches supply muscles and skin on the back of the head.

• Medial branches are sensory in the mastoid region and supply the skin and mucosa of the back of the external auditory canal.

- The main stem of C2 forms a great occipital nerve which becomes supercial, pierces the semispinalis capitis and trapezius, before supplying occipital skin.