Nerves of face and scalp (Lateral view) (English)

The nerves providing sensory innervation to the area of the scalp posterior to the ear are the great auricular and lesser occipital nerves (via the cervical plexus/anterior rami of spinal nerves C2/C3), as well as the greater and third occipital nerves (which arise from posterior ramus of spinal nerve C2). The area of the scalp anterior to the ears is innervated by the zygomaticotemporal nerve, a branch of the maxillary nerve (CN V2) and the auriculotemporal nerve, which is a branch of the mandibular nerve (CN V3). As discussed in the last image, the anterior scalp is innervated by the supratrochlear and supraorbital nerves, which are branches of the ophthalmic nerve (CN V1).