Ethmoid

Ethmoid

The Ethmoid is a bone in the human skull. It is located between the eyes and forms part of the nasal cavity and the orbits of the eyes. The ethmoid bone is one of the bones that make up the orbit of the eye.

Structure

The ethmoid bone is a complex structure. It is made up of a horizontal plate, a vertical plate, and two masses of ethmoidal cells. The horizontal plate forms the roof of the nasal cavity and the vertical plate forms the nasal septum. The ethmoidal cells are air-filled spaces within the bone.

Horizontal Plate

The horizontal plate of the ethmoid bone, also known as the cribriform plate, is a thin, delicate bone that separates the cranial cavity from the nasal cavity. It is perforated by numerous small foramina for the passage of the olfactory nerves.

Vertical Plate

The vertical plate of the ethmoid bone is a thin, flat bone that forms the upper part of the nasal septum. It is attached to the cribriform plate above and the vomer below.

Ethmoidal Cells

The ethmoidal cells are a group of small, air-filled spaces within the ethmoid bone. They are lined with mucous membrane and are involved in the process of warming and humidifying the air that is inhaled through the nose.

Function

The ethmoid bone plays a crucial role in the structure and function of the nasal cavity and the orbits of the eyes. It provides support and protection for these structures and is involved in the process of respiration and olfaction.

Clinical Significance

Damage to the ethmoid bone can result in a variety of clinical conditions, including sinusitis, nasal polyps, and ethmoidal cell carcinoma. In addition, fractures of the ethmoid bone can lead to cerebrospinal fluid leak and meningitis.

See Also

• Skull
• Nasal cavity
• Orbit (anatomy)

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