lesser occipital nerve lesser occipital nerve the lesser occipital nerve or small occipital nerve is a cutaneous spinal nerve. it arises from second cervical (spinal) nerve (along with the greater occipital nerve). it innervates the scalp in the lateral area of the head posterior to the ear. not to be confused with suboccipital nerve. lesser occipital nerveside of neck, showing chief surface markings. (lesser occip. nerve labeled at center right.)the nerves of the scalp, face, and side of neck. (smaller occipital visible below and to the left of the ear.)detailsfromcervical plexus (c2)innervatescutaneous innervation of the posterior aspect of the auricle and mastoid regionidentifierslatinnervus occipitalis minorta98a14.2.02.017ta26384fma6871anatomical terms of neuroanatomy structure the lesser occipital nerve is one of the four cutaneous branches of the cervical plexus. origin it arises from the (lateral branch of the ventral ramus) of cervical spinal nerve c2; it may also receive fibres from cervical spinal nerve c3. it originates between the atlas, and axis. course and relations it curves around the accessory nerve (cn xi) to come to course anterior to it. it then curves around and ascends along the posterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle; rarely, it may pierce the muscle. near the cranium, it perforates the deep fascia. it is continues upwards along the scalp posterior to the auricle. distribution the lesser occipital nerve distributes branches to the skin. it gives off an auricular branch, which supplies the skin of the upper and back part of the auricula, communicating with the mastoid branch of the great auricular. this branch is occasionally derived from the greater occipital nerve. variation rarely, the lesser occipital nerve may be duplicated or triplicated. it varies in size. function the lesser occipital nerve supplies part of the scalp near the auricle. it connects with the great auricular nerve, the greater occipital nerve, and the auricular branch of the facial nerve. clinical significance problems with the lesser occipital nerve cause occipital neuralgia. nerve block is difficult due to variation in the course of the nerve. history the lesser occipital nerve may also be known as the occipitalis minor nerve, or the small occipital nerve. additional images dermatome distribution of the trigeminal nerve