Great Auricular Nerve, Posterior View

Description

Arising from the cervical plexus (ventral rami of C2 to C3), the great auricular nerve courses superiorly along the posterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle and then wraps anteriorly toward the parotid region, where its branches spread over the inferolateral auricle. From a posterior head and neck perspective, the nerve can be followed as it ascends toward the mastoid process and auricular cartilage, lying superficial to the investing fascia and in close relationship to the external jugular vein as it crosses the sternocleidomastoid. Small posterior auricular and occipital cutaneous nerves also frame the field around the occipital bone and upper cervical midline. Orientation is immediate. Clinically, this is the sensory nerve most often implicated in iatrogenic numbness after parotidectomy, facelift (rhytidectomy), and postauricular approaches, because it becomes superficial at Erb’s point (the nerve point of the neck) just posterior to the midpoint of the sternocleidomastoid. Surgeons track it to preserve sensation over the lobule and conchal bowl, and anesthetists target it for auricular field blocks when managing lacerations or otologic pain without deeper cranial nerve blockade. The posterior view makes the branch distribution behind the auricle easier to teach than an anterior diagram crowded by parotid and facial nerve landmarks. Use this artwork for head and neck anatomy labs, cervical plexus teaching in regional anesthesia curricula, and surgical atlases covering parotid, mastoid, or postauricular incisions where cutaneous nerve preservation affects patient satisfaction. It also fits ENT and plastic surgery patient education materials explaining expected sensory changes around the ear after incision-based procedures. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.