Anatomical terminology
Skeletal system
- Skeleton of trunk
- Skull
- Skeleton of upper limb
- Skeleton of lower limb
Joints
Muscles
Heart
Blood vessels
Lymphatic system
Nervous system
Respiratory system
Digestive system
Urinary system
Female reproductive system
Male reproductive system
Endocrine glands
Eye
Ear

Choose article

Anterior cranial fossa

The anterior cranial fossa (Latin: fossa cranii anterior) lies at the highest level of the internal cranial base and is formed by the cribriform plate of the ethmoid bone, orbital plate of the frontal bone, and lesser wings of the sphenoid.

Anterior cranial fossa — Anterior cranial fossa by Anatomy.app

Fossae of internal cranial base — Fossae of internal cranial base by Anatomy.app

Borders of anterior cranial fossa

The borders of the anterior cranial fossa are marked by the following structures:

Anteriorly and laterally - inner surface of the frontal bone;
Posteromedially - limbus of the sphenoid bone;
Posterolaterally - lesser wings of the sphenoid bone;
Inferiorly - orbital plate of the frontal bone, cribriform plate and crista galli of the ethmoid bone, anterior aspects of the body and lesser wings of the sphenoid bone.

Borders of anterior cranial fossa — Borders of anterior cranial fossa by Anatomy.app

Walls of anterior cranial fossa — Walls of anterior cranial fossa by Anatomy.app

Internal cranial base, bones forming anterior cranial fossa (colored) — Anterior cranial fossa by Anatomy.app

Contents of anterior cranial fossa

The anterior cranial fossa contains the following parts of the brain:

Openings of anterior cranial fossa

There are several openings connecting the anterior cranial fossa with other parts of the skull, and these are the following:

Anterior ethmoidal foramen
Cribriform foramina (foramina of the cribriform plate)

Openings of anterior cranial fossa — Openings of anterior cranial fossa by Anatomy.app

The paired anterior ethmoidal foramen connects the anterior cranial fossa with the orbit on both sides. This opening transmits the anterior ethmoidal nerve (arises from the nasociliary nerve, which is a branch of the ophthalmic nerve (CN V1)) and the anterior ethmoidal artery and vein.

The cribriform foramina are numerous tiny openings or perforations in the cribriform plate of the ethmoid bone, therefore, they are also known as the foramina of the cribriform plate. These openings connect the anterior cranial fossa with the nasal cavity and transmit the olfactory nerves (CN I).