ANTERIOR CRANIAL FOSSA

The anterior cranial fossa lodges the frontal lobes of the cerebral hemispheres. Its floor is composed of
the portions of the following three bones: ethmoid, frontal, and sphenoid. It is demarcated from the
middle cranial fossa by the:

(a) posterior free border of the lesser wing of sphenoid on each side, and

(b) anterior border of the sulcus chiasmaticus in the median region.

The junction between these two is marked by the anterior clinoid process.

Features

The anterior cranial fossa presents the following features:

1. the median region, from before backward these are:

(a) Frontal crest, a vertical crest on the inner aspect of a ntal bone.

(b) Foramen Cecum (in between the frontal crest and Crista galli).

(c) Crista galli, a cock’s comb-like bony crest, formed by the perpendicular plate of the
ethmoid.

(d) Iugum sphenoidale (the superior surface of the anterior part of the body of the
sphenoid).

(e) On each side of crista galli lies the sieve-like cribriform plate of the ethmoid which
separates the anterior cranial fossa from the nasal cavity. It possesses:

 a number of small foramina, to provide passage for 15—20 filaments of the

olfactory nerve,
 nasal slits one on either side of crista galli to provide passage to the anterior
ethmoidal nerve, and 0 an anterior ethmoid canal along the lateral border
anteriorly and
 an posterior ethmoidal canal along the lateral border posteriorly to provide
passage to the anterior and posterior ethmoidal nerve and vessels.

2. In the lateral region on either side, the orbital plate of the frontal bone separates the anterior cranial
fossa from the orbit and supports the frontal lobe of the brain with consequent impressions of sulci and
gyri.
 Structures passing through various foramina in the anterior cranial fossa

Foramen cecum

Emmissary vein from the nasal mucosa to the anterior end of the superior sagittal sinus if
foramen is patent.

Cribriform Foramina

Olfactory nerves surrounded by leptomeninges (pia and arachnord maters): from the olfactory
epithelium of the nasal cavity to the olfactory bulb in the anterior cranial fossa.

Anterior Ethmoidal Foramen

1. Anterior ethmoidal nerve: a branch of the nasociliary nerve.

2. Anterior ethmoidal artery: a branch of the ophthalmic artery.
3. Anterior ethmoidal vein: a tributary of the ophthalmic vein.

Posterior Ethmoidal Foramen

1. Posterior ethmoidal nerve: a branch of the nasociliary nerve.

2. Posterior ethmoidal artery: a branch of the ophthalmic artery.
3. Posterior ethmoidal vein: a tributary of the ophthalmic vein.

Clinical correlation
Foramen cecum may transmit an emissary vein from the nasal cavity to the superior sagittai
sinus and then serve as a potential route for nasal infections to spread to the meninges of the
cranial cavity.