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 the ...
, the medial branch of the
posterior division of the third
cervical nerve
A spinal nerve is a mixed nerve, which carries motor, sensory, and autonomic signals between the spinal cord and the body. In the human body there are 31 pairs of spinal nerves, one on each side of the vertebral column. These are grouped into the ...
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
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