The lesser occipital nerve provides sensory supply to the lateral occipital scalp and the area behind the ear. It is one of the four cutaneous branches of the cervical plexus accessible at the Erb point (posterior SCM border at the junction of the upper and middle thirds). Lesser occipital neuralgia produces lateral scalp pain extending to the posterior ear — distinguished from GON neuralgia by its more lateral distribution.
| Origin | Cervical plexus (C2, occasionally C3) |
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The lesser occipital nerve is blocked at the posterior SCM border at the Erb point — alongside the greater auricular, supraclavicular, and transverse cervical nerves as part of a cervical plexus block for awake carotid endarterectomy. Its territory overlaps with the auriculotemporal nerve (V3) anteriorly.
Lateral occipital scalp pain from LON irritation managed with nerve block at the posterior SCM border.
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