| Cribriform plate | |
|---|---|
 Superior view of the central part of the anterior cranial fossa.
CG: crista galli; CF: cribriform plate | |
 1: Olfactory bulb 2: Mitral cells 3: Cribriform plate 4: Olfactory epithelium 5: Glomerulus 6: Olfactory receptor neurons | |
| Details | |
| Part of | Ethmoid bone of the human skull |
| System | Skeletal |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | lamina cribrosa ossis ethmoidalis |
| TA98 | A02.1.07.002 |
| TA2 | 722 |
| FMA | 52890 |
| Anatomical terms of bone | |
In mammalian anatomy, the cribriform plate (Latin for lit. sieve-shaped), horizontal lamina or lamina cribrosa is part of the ethmoid bone. It is received into the ethmoidal notch of the frontal bone and roofs in the nasal cavities. It supports the olfactory bulb, and is perforated by olfactory foramina for the passage of the olfactory nerves to the roof of the nasal cavity to convey smell to the brain. The foramina at the medial part of the groove allow the passage of the nerves to the upper part of the nasal septum while the foramina at the lateral part transmit the nerves to the superior nasal concha.
A fractured cribriform plate can result in olfactory dysfunction, septal hematoma, cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhoea (CSF rhinorrhoea), and possibly infection which can lead to meningitis. CSF rhinorrhoea (clear fluid leaking from the nose) is very serious and considered a medical emergency. 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.[1]
- ^ Marjorie Calvert, Dr. Ronald DeVere, MD (2010). "Why Can't I Smell (ch.3)". Navigating Smell and Taste Disorders. Demos Medical Publishing. ISBN 9781932603965.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)