The lesser occipital nerve (or small occipital nerve) is a cutaneous spinal nerve of the cervical plexus. It arises from second cervical (spinal) nerve (C2) (along with the greater occipital nerve). It innervates the skin of the back of the upper neck and of the scalp posterior to the ear.
Structure
Origin
It arises from the (lateral branch of the ventral ramus It originates between the atlas, and axis.
Course and relations
It curves around the accessory nerve (CN XI) to come to course anterior to it.