Alae Of The Crista Galli, Superior View

Description

Ethmoid bone anatomy dominates this superior view of the anterior cranial base, centered on the crista galli with its paired alae projecting laterally like short bony wings. Each ala lies immediately lateral to the midline crista galli and forms the medial margin of the adjacent cribriform plate, whose perforated surface extends anterolaterally on both sides. The cribriform foramina appear as clustered openings for fila olfactoria (CN I), while the crista galli rises superiorly as a midline ridge separating left and right olfactory fossae. Midline matters. Clinically, the crista galli and cribriform plate define a high-risk zone for anterior skull base trauma: fractures across the cribriform region can shear olfactory nerve filaments, produce anosmia, and create a pathway for cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea with secondary meningitis risk. Otolaryngology and skull base teams also treat this area as a fixed landmark during endoscopic endonasal procedures, where orientation to the crista galli and its alae helps avoid unintended entry into the anterior cranial fossa and guides safe dissection near the roof of the nasal cavity. The fixed superior perspective makes the left-right symmetry easy to teach and supports correlation with coronal CT, where the crista galli and cribriform plates are routinely evaluated for contour disruption. Use this illustration in gross anatomy and neuroanatomy teaching sets covering the anterior cranial fossa, as well as in ENT and neurosurgery references discussing skull base fractures, CSF leak workups, or endoscopic approaches near the olfactory groove. It also fits radiology education materials that compare bony landmarks across axial and coronal imaging of the ethmoid region. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.