Etmoidiluu

Etmoidiluu is the ethmoid bone, a complex and unpaired bone located in the anterior cranial fossa of the skull. It is situated between the orbital plates of the frontal bone and anterior to the sphenoid bone. The ethmoid bone is largely composed of spongy bone and forms a significant portion of the anterior cranial base, the nasal cavity, and the medial walls of the orbits.

This bone has several distinct parts. The cribriform plate, a sieve-like structure, forms the roof of the nasal cavity and transmits the olfactory nerves from the nasal mucosa to the olfactory bulbs of the brain. The perpendicular plate projects inferiorly from the cribriform plate, forming the superior part of the nasal septum. Lateral masses, also known as the ethmoidal labyrinths, contain numerous air cells called ethmoidal sinuses, which are lined with mucous membrane. These sinuses drain into the nasal cavity.

The ethmoid bone also contributes to the orbital cavity through its orbital plates, which form the medial walls of the orbits. Superiorly, it articulates with the frontal bone, and inferiorly, it articulates with the maxilla and palatine bones. Its delicate structure makes it susceptible to fractures, often resulting from facial trauma. The ethmoid bone plays a crucial role in olfaction, respiration, and the overall structure of the anterior skull.