A 40-year-old is undergoing neck dissection. The surgeon identifies a nerve in the posterior triangle of the neck that runs superficially and supplies sensation to the skin of the lower face, pinna, and angle of jaw. Which nerve is this?

• A Great auricular nerve (C2, C3) ✓
• B Lesser occipital nerve (C2)
• C Transverse cervical nerve (C2, C3)
• D Supraclavicular nerve (C3, C4)

Explanation

The great auricular nerve (C2, C3) is the largest cutaneous branch of the cervical plexus. It curves around the posterior border of sternocleidomastoid and supplies the skin over the parotid gland, angle of jaw, lower third of pinna (both surfaces), and mastoid region. It is the most commonly injured sensory nerve during parotidectomy and neck dissection, resulting in numbness at the angle of jaw. The lesser occipital nerve (C2) supplies the scalp behind the ear, and the transverse cervical nerve (C2, C3) supplies the anterior neck skin.

Reference: BD Chaurasia's Human Anatomy, 8th ed.

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Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.