Localization of the greater occipital nerve through palpation of bony landmarks: A cadaveric study.

Objective: to provide anatomic confirmation that standard methods which practitioners skilled in palpation use, can reliably identify the most likely site of emergence of the greater occipital nerve in most patients. The location and frequency of subcutaneous emergence of the greater occipital nerve and occipital artery with respect to the external occipital protuberance-mastoid line are reported.

Methods: The external occipital protuberance and the mastoid processes were identified by palpation bilaterally on 57 body donors and the medial trisection point of a line connecting these bony landmarks was identified.