Skull & Cranial Anatomy
Ethmoid bone
The ethmoid bone is a small, spongy bone between the eyes that forms part of the nasal cavity and skull base.
In short: Ethmoid bone
- It is involved in frontoethmoidal and transethmoidal encephaloceles.
- It includes the cribriform plate.
- It lies between the eyes and contributes to the nose.
- It is an important landmark for endoscopic and craniofacial repair.
What it is
It is the bone between the eyes that contributes to the nose and the skull base. It includes the cribriform plate and is involved in several anterior and basal encephaloceles.
Understanding Ethmoid bone
Its central position means it is involved in several anterior and basal encephaloceles — including frontoethmoidal types (between the frontal and ethmoid bones) and transethmoidal types (through the cribriform plate). It is an important landmark for endoscopic and craniofacial repair, given its location between the eyes and at the front skull base.
Why it matters
Understanding the ethmoid bone helps families see why so many anterior and nasal encephaloceles involve the area between the eyes and the front skull base, and why this region is central to repair.
Common questions
Where is the ethmoid bone?
Between the eyes, contributing to the nose.
Which encephaloceles involve it?
Frontoethmoidal and transethmoidal types.
What does it include?
The cribriform plate.
Bottom line
The ethmoid bone sits between the eyes and is involved in anterior and basal encephaloceles.
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