While under the

Trapezius The trapezius is a large paired trapezoid-shaped surface muscle that extends longitudinally from the occipital bone to the lower thoracic vertebrae of the spine and laterally to the spine of the scapula. It moves the scapula and supports th ...

, the medial branch of the posterior division of the third cervical nerve gives off a branch called the third occipital nerve (also known as the least occipital nerve), which pierces the Trapezius and ends in the skin of the lower part of the back of the head. It lies medial to the greater occipital nerve and communicates with it.

Additional images

File:Gray784.png, Dermatome distribution of the trigeminal nerve

External links

* http://www.dartmouth.edu/~humananatomy/figures/chapter_47/47-2.HTM * http://www.dartmouth.edu/~humananatomy/figures/chapter_47/47-6.HTM Spinal nerves {{Neuroanatomy-stub