Posterior auricular nerve

The posterior auricular nerve arises close to the stylomastoid foramen and runs upward in front of the mastoid process; here it is joined by a filament from the auricular branch of the vagus and communicates with the posterior branch of the great auricular as well as with the lesser occipital.

As it ascends between the external acoustic meatus and mastoid process it divides into auricular and occipital branches.


 * The auricular branch supplies the auricularis posterior and the intrinsic muscles on the cranial surface of the auricula.


 * The occipital branch, the larger, passes backward along the superior nuchal line of the occipital bone and supplies the occipitalis.