THE HEAD AND NECK, POSTERIOR. 129 



The Deep Cervical Fascia. 



This fascia is described at page 1 36. 



DISSECTION. 



Remove the superficial and deep fasciae, exposing the trapezius muscle, the 

 occipital artery, vein, and the cutaneous nerves, the larger of which are the 

 internal cutaneous branch of the third cervical nerve, the great occipital, and 

 the small occipital (already found on the dissection of the anterior of the neck, 

 see page 75). 



Trapezius Muscle, see page 362. 



The Cutaneous Nerves. 



(1) The small occipital, described on page go. 



(2) The great occipital. Figs. 76 and 77. 



The great occipital nerve is the internal branch of the 

 posterior division of the second cervical nerve. The ex- 

 ternal branch of this division is a small nerve which sup- 

 plies the inferior oblique, complexus, and trachelomastoid. 

 The internal branch passes upward and inward and back- 

 ward across the lower border of the inferior oblique, then 

 through the complexus at its middle and inner thirds, and 

 about one inch below the superior line of the occipital bone, 

 then it pierces the trapezius close to this curved ridge and 

 spreads out into branches, which accompany the branches 

 of the occipital artery and supply the greater part of the 

 back of the head. The great occipital communicates be- 

 neath the complexus muscle with the cervical nerves above 

 and below, forming a loose plexus called the posterior cervi- 

 cal plexus of Cruveilheir, and upon the back of the head 

 with the small and third occipital nerves. 



(3) The third occipital nerve. This is the internal 

 branch of the posterior division of the third cervical nerve. 

 It is much smaller than the great occipital, and takes a 

 course below and internal to that nerve, passing through 

 the complexus (biventer), and, emerging at the inner 



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