Cells of the Epidermis. The majority of epidermal cells are keratinocytes that produce a fibrous protective protein called keratin. Melanocytes are epithelial cells that synthesize the pigment melanin. Langerhans cells, or epidermal dendritic cells, are macrophages that help activate the immune system.Merkel cells are associated with sensory nerve endings. Layers of the Epidermis. The stratum basale (basal layer) is the deepest epidermal layer and is the site of mitosis.ells of the Epidermis. The majority of epidermal cells are keratinocytes that produce a fibrous protective protein called keratin. Melanocytes are epithelial cells that synthesize the pigment melanin. Langerhans cells, or epidermal dendritic cells, are macrophages that help activate the immune system.
Some patients with occipital neuralgia also have dizziness, presumably due to a variant of cervical vertigo. See our cervical vertigo page for more about this complicated subject. Many patients with occipital neuralgia also experience typical migraine symptoms.
What causes occipital neuralgia? Occipital neuralgia is caused by multiple factors. The most common cause of occipital neuralgia is head trauma. Injury to the neck, such as whiplash, may result in inflammation and damage to the occipital region, causing nerve irritation and pain. Occipital neuralgia may be caused by pinching or trapping of the nerve root in the neck, with tight muscles, tumors, and certain spine conditions being the most common causes. Less commonly, occipital neuralgia may be caused by diabetes or gout. In some cases, however, the cause is not known.