What is the purpose of the cribriform plate?

Function. The cribriform plate is perforated by olfactory foramina, which allow for the passage of the olfactory nerves to the roof of the nasal cavity. This conveys information from smell receptors to the brain.

What lies on cribriform plate?

The olfactory bulb lies on the cribriform plate of the ethmoid bone. In this location it is inferior to medial aspects of the frontal lobe (Fig. 23.1), at the rostral end of the olfactory sulcus (see Fig. 23.7), and in the rostral portions of the anterior cranial fossa.

Is the cribriform plate fragile?

The cribriform plate is vulnerable to CSF leaks due to the thin nature of the bone, creating a structural weakness and forming a pathway for potentials leaks.

What structures are damaged when the cribriform plate is fractured?

The dura overlying the cribriform plate is thin and tightly adherent to the skull; thus, fractures of the cribriform plate can easily tear the dura and lead to leakage of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) into the nasal cavity.

How thick is the cribriform plate?

The average width of the cribriform plate (including the crista galli) was 4.53mm (range 1.75-8.03mm, SD 1.20mm).

Is the cribriform plate a bone?

The cribriform plate is the portion of the ethmoid bone that forms the roof of the nasal cavity. This narrow bony structure contains deep grooves known as olfactory fossa, which supports the olfactory bulb.

What passes through cribriform foramina?

Foramina of cribriform plate: Located in the ethmoid bone, it allows the passage of the olfactory nerve.

Do dogs have Cribriform plates?

Despite only recent selective pressure for extreme skull morphology, domestic dogs display much more variation in cribriform plate shape than wild canids, indicating that cribriform plate shape is plastic and linked to skull shape.

Can cribriform plate be repaired?

Today, endoscopic repair of cribriform CSF leaks is the mainstay of surgical repair, and this technique enjoys a very high success rate with few complications, recurrence rates, and morbidity.

What happens if cribriform plate damage?

Fractures of the cribriform plate can be associated with septal hematoma, olfactory dysfunction, cerebral spinal fluid leak, or infection, which can progress to meningitis.

What nerve goes through cribriform plate?

the olfactory nerve
The cribriform plate is here. The filaments of the olfactory nerve, here they are in close-up, pass through the cribriform plate and run just beneath the mucous membrane to reach nerve endings in this olfactory area on the lateral and medial surfaces of the nasal cavity.

How many Foraminas are in the skull?

21 foramina
The skull bones that contain foramina include the frontal, ethmoid, sphenoid, maxilla, palatine, temporal, and occipital. There are 21 foramina in the human skull.

What does the cribriform plate look like?

The cribriform plate is part of the ethmoid bone, which has a low density, and is spongy. It is narrow, with deep grooves supporting the olfactory bulb . Its anterior border, short and thick, articulates with the frontal bone.

What is the crista galli and cribriform plate?

The long thin posterior border of the crista galli serves for the attachment of the falx cerebri. On either side of the crista galli, the cribriform plate is narrow and deeply grooved. At the front part of the cribriform plate, on either side of the crista galli, is a small fissure that is occupied by a process of dura mater .

How does aging affect the cribriform plate?

Aging can cause the openings in the cribriform plate to close, pinching olfactory nerve fibers. A reduction in olfactory receptors, loss of blood flow, and thick nasal mucus can also cause an impaired sense of smell. The cribriform plate is part of the ethmoid bone, which has a low density, and is spongy.

How does the cribriform plate support the olfactory bulb?

The cribriform plate is narrow with deep grooves supporting the olfactory bulb, and is perforated by olfactory foramina allowing the passage of the olfactory nerves. The foramina in the middle of the groove are small and allows the passing of the nerves to the roof of the nasal cavity.