The occipital triangle is the larger upper part of the posterior triangle of the neck, above the inferior belly of omohyoid. It is bounded by sternocleidomastoid, trapezius and omohyoid and is crossed by the spinal accessory nerve.
| Location | Upper side of the neck, behind sternocleidomastoid. |
|---|---|
| Boundaries | |
| Contents |
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Subdivision of the posterior triangle containing the accessory nerve and cervical plexus branches.
The superficial course of the accessory nerve across this triangle makes it vulnerable during node biopsy and neck dissection. Cutaneous branches of the cervical plexus emerge here near the midpoint of the sternocleidomastoid border, the landmark for a superficial cervical plexus block.
Injury to the nerve as it crosses the occipital triangle, leading to trapezius wasting and shoulder droop.
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