Great auricular nerve
Nervus auricularis magnus
Definition
The great auricular nerve is from the ventral branch of the second cervical nerve (C2).
It crosses the cleidocephalic muscle near its dorsal border and then follows the wing of the atlas to join the caudal auricular nerve at the ear. Its branches then go up along the convex face of the auricle.
It supplies sensory input to the base of the ear and the caudal part of the back of the auricle.
References
Constantinescu GM, Schaller O. Illustrated veterinary anatomical nomenclature, 3rd Edition, Enke Verlag, Stuttgart, 2012.
Barone R, Simoens P. Anatomie comparée des mammifères domestiques, Tome 7, Neurologie II, Vigot, Paris, 2010.
