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Crista galli

Medically Reviewed by Anatomy Team

  • Last updated on January 18, 2025

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The Crista galli is a bony structure located within the skull, specifically in the region known as the ethmoid bone.[6] It is a thin, triangular-shaped projection that extends upwards from the ethmoid bone, and serves as an important anatomic landmark within the central skull base.

Structure

The Crista galli is formed by the union of two thin, bony plates known as the crista galli proper and the frontal crest.[4] These plates are fused together at the top of the ethmoid bone, and form a triangular-shaped projection that extends upwards into the cranial vault. The base of the Crista galli is attached to the ethmoid bone, while the apex projects upwards and posteriorly into the cranial vault.[7]

It is covered by a thin layer of bone known as the dura mater, which is the outermost layer of the meninges (the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord). The dura mater is a strong, fibrous membrane that helps to protect the brain and spinal cord from mechanical injury.[8]

Location

The Crista galli is located within the skull, specifically within the ethmoid bone. [5]The ethmoid bone is one of the small bones that make up the central skull base, and is located between the nasal cavity and the brain.[2] The Crista galli is located at the top of the ethmoid bone, and extends upwards into the cranial vault.

Function

The Crista galli serves a number of important functions within the skull. One of its primary functions is to provide attachment for the falx cerebri, a strong, fibrous sheet of connective tissue that divides the brain into left and right hemispheres. [1] The falx cerebri is attached to the Crista galli via the superior sagittal sinus, a large vein that runs along the midline of the brain and collects blood from the brain and scalp.

In addition to providing attachment for the falx cerebri, the Crista galli also serves as an important landmark for neurosurgeons and other medical professionals. It is used as a reference point for the placement of various neurosurgical instruments, such as burr holes and brain retractors.[3]

References

  1. Gray, Henry. Gray’s Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice. 41st Edition. Elsevier, 2015.
  2. Moore, Keith L., Arthur F. Dalley, and Anne M. R. Agur. Clinically Oriented Anatomy. 8th Edition. Wolters Kluwer, 2017.
  3. Netter, Frank H. Atlas of Human Anatomy. 7th Edition. Elsevier, 2018.
  4. Drake, Richard L., Wayne Vogl, and Adam W. M. Mitchell. Gray’s Anatomy for Students. 4th Edition. Elsevier, 2020.
  5. Standring, Susan. Gray’s Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice. 40th Edition. Elsevier, 2008.
  6. Snell, Richard S. Clinical Anatomy by Regions. 9th Edition. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2012.
  7. Sinnatamby, Chummy S. Last’s Anatomy: Regional and Applied. 13th Edition. Churchill Livingstone, 2011.
  8. Borley, Neil R., and Andrew D. Johnson. A Handbook of Clinical Anatomy. 2nd Edition. CRC Press, 2019.