The great auricular nerve is a cutaneous (sensory) nerve of the head. It originates from the second and third cervical (spinal) nerves (C2-C3) of the cervical plexus. It provides sensory innervation to the skin over the parotid gland and the mastoid process, parts of the outer ear, and to the parotid gland and its fascia.
Pain resulting from parotitis is caused by an impingement on the great auricular nerve.
Structure
The great auricular nerve is the largest of the ascending branches of the cervical plexus.
Origin
It arises from the second and third cervical (spinal) nerves (C2-C3),
Course and relations
The great auricular nerve is a large trunk that ascends almost vertically over the sternocleidomastoid.
Pain resulting from parotitis is caused by an impingement on the great auricular nerve.
The intermingling of the great auricular nerve and the facial nerve (CN VII) is thought to be responsible for the pathogenesis of Frey's syndrome following parotidectomy.