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Cribriform plate

The cribriform plate is a thin, horizontal bony structure forming part of the ethmoid bone, located at the roof of the nasal cavity and the floor of the anterior cranial fossa. It is perforated by numerous small foramina that transmit the olfactory nerve filaments from the nasal cavity to the olfactory bulbs.

Because of its delicate structure and strategic position between the nasal cavity and the intracranial compartment, the cribriform plate is a critical landmark in skull base anatomy, neuroradiology, and endoscopic sinus surgery.

Synonyms

  • Cribriform lamina

  • Horizontal plate of the ethmoid bone

Location

  • Situated in the midline of the anterior cranial fossa

  • Forms the roof of the nasal cavity

  • Forms the floor of the anterior cranial fossa

  • Located between the orbital plates of the frontal bone

  • Medial to the ethmoid air cells

  • Superior to the superior nasal conchae

Anatomical components

  • Cribriform plate proper:

    • Thin perforated bone with multiple olfactory foramina

  • Crista galli:

    • Midline vertical bony projection arising superiorly

  • Olfactory foramina:

    • Transmit fila olfactoria (olfactory nerve fibers)

  • Adjacent structures:

    • Perpendicular plate of the ethmoid

    • Ethmoid labyrinths

Relations

Superiorly:

  • Anterior cranial fossa

  • Olfactory bulbs and tracts

Inferiorly:

  • Nasal cavity

  • Superior nasal conchae

Anteriorly:

  • Frontal bone

Posteriorly:

  • Sphenoid bone (planum sphenoidale)

Laterally:

  • Ethmoid air cells

  • Orbital plates of the frontal bone

Structures transmitted

  • Olfactory nerve filaments (CN I)

  • Small emissary veins (variable)

Clinical significance

  • CSF rhinorrhea: Defects may allow cerebrospinal fluid leakage into the nasal cavity

  • Trauma: Common site of fracture in anterior skull base injuries

  • Infection spread: Potential route for intracranial extension of sinonasal infection

  • Congenital anomalies: May be associated with encephaloceles

  • Surgical relevance: Key landmark in endoscopic sinus and skull base surgery

X-ray appearance

Skull radiographs (limited role):

  • Cribriform plate: Generally not well visualized

  • Indirect signs: Anterior skull base integrity inferred from adjacent bones

  • Limitation: Overlapping structures reduce diagnostic value

CT appearance

Non-contrast CT (bone window):

  • Cribriform plate: Thin, perforated bony plate at the skull base

  • Olfactory foramina: Seen as multiple tiny defects

  • Crista galli: Well-defined midline bony projection

  • Relationship: Clear delineation from ethmoid air cells

Post-contrast CT:

  • Bone: No enhancement

  • Adjacent soft tissues: Normal enhancement patterns

3D CT VRT appearance

Volume-rendered technique (VRT):

  • Cribriform plate: Flattened perforated area in the anterior skull base

  • Crista galli: Prominent midline ridge

  • Utility: Helpful for surgical planning and assessment of skull base anatomy

  • Limitation: Small perforations may not be individually resolved

MRI appearance

T1-weighted images:

  • Bone: Low signal intensity

  • Olfactory bulbs: Intermediate signal resting on the plate

  • Adjacent frontal lobes: Normal cortical signal

T2-weighted images:

  • Bone: Low signal

  • CSF: High signal outlining the anterior cranial fossa

  • Nasal cavity mucosa: Intermediate-to-high signal

CT image

Cribriform plate

X-Ray image

X ray Cribriform plate anatomy image -img-00000-00000