Ethmoid bone facts for kids

The ethmoid bone is a special bone found inside your skull. Its name comes from a Greek word meaning "sieve," like a strainer. This bone sits right at the top of your nose, between your eyes. It acts like a wall, separating your nasal cavity (the space inside your nose) from your brain. The ethmoid bone is very light because it's built like a sponge, with lots of tiny air spaces.

Sagittal section of the skull. The ethmoid bone is shown in white.

What are the parts of the ethmoid bone?

The ethmoid bone has four main parts, each with an important job:

• The cribriform plate is a flat, horizontal part. It's like a tiny sieve with many small holes. These holes allow nerves for your sense of smell to pass through. This part is also a section of the base of your skull.
• The perpendicular plate is a thin, vertical part. It helps form the nasal septum, which is the wall that divides your nose into two separate nostrils.
• The two lateral masses are on each side of the bone. They contain many small air-filled spaces called ethmoid air cells. These spaces help make the skull lighter and may help with voice resonance.

Why is the ethmoid bone important for smell?

The ethmoid bone is super important for your sense of smell. Tiny nerves that help you smell pass right through the small holes in the cribriform plate. These nerves send messages from your nose to your brain.

If someone gets a strong blow to the head, these delicate nerves can sometimes be damaged or cut. When this happens, it can lead to a condition called anosmia. Anosmia means you lose your sense of smell completely.

Losing your sense of smell can be more than just annoying. It also greatly reduces your sense of taste, since much of what we "taste" actually comes from what we smell. More importantly, it can be dangerous! Imagine not being able to smell smoke from a fire, a gas leak, or food that has gone bad. Your sense of smell helps keep you safe.

Images for kids

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  The ethmoid bone seen from above.

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  A closer look at the perpendicular plate of the ethmoid bone.

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  The ethmoid bone from the front view.

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  The ethmoid bone seen from the right side.

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  The sphenoid bone (center right) is near the ethmoid bone.

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  A side view of the human skull.

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  The human skull seen from the front.

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  The inner wall of the left eye socket (orbit).

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  The upper surface of the base of the skull.

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  The inner wall of the left nasal passage.

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  The roof, floor, and side wall of the left nasal cavity.

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  The side wall of the nasal cavity, showing the ethmoid bone in its place.

Related pages

• Bone terminology

See also

In Spanish: Hueso etmoides para niños