The Cribriform Foramina are a series of small openings located in the skull that allow for the passage of important neural structures.
Structure
The Cribriform Foramina are located in the ethmoid bone, which is a small bone situated in the midline of the skull between the eye sockets (or orbits). The ethmoid bone is divided into three parts: the cribriform plate, the orbital plates, and the perpendicular plate. The Cribriform Foramina are located in the cribriform plate, which is a thin, horizontal plate of bone that forms the roof of the nasal cavity.
The Cribriform Foramina are a series of small, circular openings that are arranged in two rows on the cribriform plate. The foramina are separated by thin bony septa, and each foramen is surrounded by a small bony ridge called the foramen margin. The foramina range in size from about 3 to 5 millimeters in diameter, and they are spaced about 8 to 10 millimeters apart.
Location
The Cribriform Foramina are located in the midline of the skull, just above the nasal cavity. They are situated between the orbits, and they are just behind the nasal bone. The foramina can be easily palpated through the skin by pressing gently on the upper part of the nasal bridge.
Function
The Cribriform Foramina serve as passageways for several important neural structures, including the olfactory nerves and the olfactory filaments. The olfactory nerves are responsible for transmitting the sense of smell from the nose to the brain, and the olfactory filaments are small bundles of nerve fibers that carry the electrical signals associated with smell.
In addition to that, the Cribriform foramina also allow for the passage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) between the brain and the spinal cord. CSF is a clear, watery fluid that surrounds and cushions the brain and spinal cord, and it helps to maintain the proper pressure within the skull and spinal column.
