Great Auricular Nerve

Description

Arising from the cervical plexus (C2 to C3), the great auricular nerve is traced as it winds around the posterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle at the punctum nervosum and ascends superficially across the lateral neck. Its anterior and posterior branches fan superiorly toward the parotid region and auricle, with cutaneous fibers crossing toward the angle of the mandible anteriorly and the mastoid and posterior auricular skin posteriorly. Nearby landmarks in this head and neck model include the masseter muscle over the ramus of the mandible, the parotid gland region, and a superficial vascular network that helps orient the nerve’s course. Surface anatomy makes this nerve a frequent casualty. During parotidectomy, facelift (rhytidectomy), and lateral neck dissection, the great auricular nerve lies vulnerable where it traverses the sternocleidomastoid, and injury typically produces numbness or dysesthesia over the lobule and parotid skin. Its relationship to the angle of the mandible also matters for local anesthetic infiltration and for distinguishing great auricular sensory territory from trigeminal distributions. Expect variation in branching near the ear. Use this illustration for teaching cervical plexus cutaneous branches in gross anatomy, otolaryngology, and plastic surgery modules, and for clinical atlases discussing postoperative sensory deficits after parotid or neck procedures. It also supports patient-facing consent materials where a clear map of auricular and mandibular angle sensation is needed. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.