Great Auricular Nerve

Description

Emerging from the cervical plexus, the great auricular nerve (C2 to C3) ascends on the superficial surface of the sternocleidomastoid after piercing the deep cervical fascia near the midpoint of its posterior border (Erb point). In a posterolateral head and neck view, its trunk tracks superiorly toward the parotid region, then divides into anterior and posterior cutaneous branches that fan across the angle of the mandible and the skin overlying the mastoid process and auricle. Neighboring landmarks include the trapezius posteriorly and the inferior parotid gland and platysma anteriorly, with accompanying superficial veins often indicated in blue. Surgical planning often hinges on this nerve’s relationship to the sternocleidomastoid and parotid tail. Injury to the great auricular nerve is a familiar complication of superficial parotidectomy, rhytidectomy, and upper cervical lymph node dissection, producing numbness or dysesthesia over the lower pinna and parotid-masseteric skin. Fine. This view also supports teaching of regional anesthesia, since a superficial cervical plexus block targets the emergence of the great auricular nerve alongside the lesser occipital, transverse cervical, and supraclavicular nerves at the posterior border of sternocleidomastoid. Ideal use cases include head and neck anatomy courses, ENT and maxillofacial surgery texts, and patient-facing consent materials explaining sensory changes after parotid or neck procedures; it also fits clinical slide decks on cervical plexus blocks and incision planning along the posterior border of sternocleidomastoid. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.