Greater occipital nerve

Greater occipital nerve
Posterior primary divisions of the upper three cervical nerves. (Great occipital nerve labeled at center top.)
Details
FromC2
InnervatesSemispinalis capitis, scalp
Identifiers
Latinnervus occipitalis major
TA98A14.2.02.008
TA26366
FMA65443
Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy

The greater occipital nerve is a nerve of the head. It is a spinal nerve, specifically the medial branch of the dorsal primary ramus of cervical spinal nerve 2. It arises from between the first and second cervical vertebrae, ascends, and then passes through the semispinalis muscle. It ascends further to supply the skin along the posterior part of the scalp to the vertex. It supplies sensation to the scalp at the top of the head, over the ear and over the parotid glands.[citation needed]