Posterior ethmoidal

Posterior Ethmoidal refers to the structures related to the posterior part of the ethmoid bone in the skull. The ethmoid bone is a singular porous bone that makes up the middle area of the facial skeleton and forms the roof of the nasal cavity, the upper part of the nasal septum, and part of the medial wall of the orbit.

Anatomy[edit | edit source]

The posterior ethmoidal cells form a part of the ethmoidal sinus, which is divided into anterior, middle, and posterior air cells. The posterior ethmoidal cells drain into the superior meatus of the nasal cavity, under the superior nasal concha.

The posterior ethmoidal artery, a branch of the ophthalmic artery, supplies the posterior ethmoidal cells and the superior nasal cavity. The posterior ethmoidal nerve, a branch of the nasociliary nerve, provides sensory innervation to these areas.

Clinical Significance[edit | edit source]

Inflammation of the posterior ethmoidal cells can lead to ethmoiditis, a type of sinusitis. This condition can cause symptoms such as nasal congestion, facial pain, and reduced sense of smell. In severe cases, it can lead to complications such as orbital cellulitis or meningitis.

Surgical procedures involving the posterior ethmoidal cells, such as functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS), require a detailed understanding of the complex anatomy of the ethmoid bone to avoid complications.