The posterior auricular nerve is a nerve of the head. It is a branch of the facial nerve (CN VII). It communicates with branches from the vagus nerve, the great auricular nerve, and the lesser occipital nerve. Its auricular branch supplies the posterior auricular muscle, the intrinsic muscles of the auricle, and gives sensation to the auricle. Its occipital branch supplies the occipitalis muscle.
| Posterior Auricular Nerve | |
|---|---|
 Plan of the facial and intermediate nerves and their communication with other nerves. (Post. auricular br. labeled at bottom left.) | |
 The nerves of the scalp, face, and side of neck. (Post. auricular visible near center, behind ear.) | |
| Details | |
| From | Facial nerve |
| Innervates | Posterior auricular muscle, occipitalis muscle (posterior part of occipitofrontalis) |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | n. auricularis posterior |
| TA98 | A14.2.01.102 |
| TA2 | 6295 |
| FMA | 53278 |
| Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy | |
Structure
editThe posterior auricular nerve arises from the facial nerve (CN VII).[1] It is the first branch outside of the skull.[2] This origin is close to the stylomastoid foramen. It runs upward in front of the mastoid process. It is joined by a branch from the auricular branch of the vagus nerve (CN X). It communicates with the posterior branch of the great auricular nerve, as well as with the lesser occipital nerve.
As it ascends between the external acoustic meatus and mastoid process it divides into auricular and occipital branches.
- The auricular branch travels to the posterior auricular muscle and the intrinsic muscles on the cranial surface of the auricule.
- The occipital branch, the larger branch, passes backward along the superior nuchal line of the occipital bone to the occipitalis muscle.
Function
editThe posterior auricular nerve supplies the posterior auricular muscle, and the intrinsic muscles of the auricle.[1] It gives sensation to the auricle.[1] It also supplies the occipitalis muscle.[1]
Clinical significance
editNerve testing
editThe posterior auricular nerve can be tested by contraction of the occipitalis muscle, and by sensation in the auricle.[1] This testing is rarely performed.[1]
Biopsy
editThe posterior auricular nerve can be biopsied.[3] This can be used to test for leprosy, which can be important in diagnosis.[3]
See also
editReferences
edit
This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 905 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)
- ^ a b c d e f Rea, Paul (2016). "2 - Head". Essential Clinically Applied Anatomy of the Peripheral Nervous System in the Head and Neck. Academic Press. pp. 21–130. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-803633-4.00002-8. ISBN 978-0-12-803633-4.
- ^ Townley, William (2017). "50 - Immediate Facial Nerve Reconstruction Following Iatrogenic Injuries". Maxillofacial Surgery. Vol. 1 (3rd ed.). Churchill Livingstone. pp. 707–713. doi:10.1016/B978-0-7020-6056-4.00051-4. ISBN 978-0-7020-6056-4.
- ^ a b de Freitas, Marcos R. G.; Said, Gérard (2013). "28 - Leprous neuropathy". Handbook of Clinical Neurology. Vol. 115. Elsevier. pp. 499–514. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-52902-2.00028-X. ISBN 978-0-444-52902-2. ISSN 0072-9752. PMID 23931798.
External links
edit- lesson4 at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (parotid3)
- cranialnerves at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (VII)
- http://www.dartmouth.edu/~humananatomy/figures/chapter_47/47-5.HTM
