The great auricular nerve is a sensory nerve that innervates the skin over the external ear and the parotid gland. This nerve arises from the cervical plexus and contains fibers from the second and third cervical nerves. Synonyms for this nerve include the auricular branch of the second cervical nerve, the auricular nerve, and the Arnold nerve. The great auricular nerve is responsible for transmitting information about temperature, touch, and pain from the external ear and parotid gland to the brain. Damage to this nerve can result in numbness or tingling in the affected area, as well as difficulty moving the earlobe.