The cribriform plate is a part of the skull located between the nasal cavity and the brain. It is pronounced as /ˈkrɪbrɪform pleɪt/ with emphasis on the second syllable. The word 'cribriform' is derived from the Latin word 'cribrosus' which means 'having small holes'. The suffix '-form' means 'having the shape of'. Thus, the spelling of the word 'cribriform' indicates that something has the shape of small holes, which accurately describes the structure of the cribriform plate.
The cribriform plate refers to a thin, sieve-like structure located at the roof of the nasal cavity, forming part of the ethmoid bone, which is one of the bones that make up the skull. It is also referred to as the cribriform lamina or simply the cribriform. The term "cribriform" originates from the Latin word "cribrum," which means "sieve."
The cribriform plate is perforated with multiple tiny holes or foramina that allow the passage of olfactory nerves, which are responsible for the sense of smell. These nerves connect the nasal cavity to the brain, specifically the olfactory bulb located within the cranial cavity. This anatomical arrangement enables the smells that are detected by the olfactory receptors in the nose to be transmitted to the brain for interpretation and recognition.
Moreover, the cribriform plate plays a crucial role in protecting the delicate olfactory nerves from injury or damage due to trauma or infection. Because it acts as part of the skull's structure, any injury to the cribriform plate could potentially lead to severe complications such as leakage of cerebral spinal fluid into the nasal cavity or even anosmia, which is the loss of the sense of smell. Surgical procedures involving the nasal cavity or the base of the skull require careful consideration of the cribriform plate due to the risks involved in manipulating this delicate structure.
Lamina cribrosa of the ethmoid bone.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "cribriform" derives from the Latin term "cribrum", meaning "sieve" or "filter", and the word "plate", which refers to a flat, thin piece. When combined, "cribriform plate" refers to a thin, sieve-like structure. In anatomy, the term specifically refers to a flat, porous area of the ethmoid bone located in the skull, which resembles a sieve.