The ethmoid bone is a cube-shaped bone located in the center of the skull between the eyes.
Very light and sponge-like in texture, the ethmoid bone is one of themost complex bonesof the face.
Anatomy
The ethmoid bone has four main parts.
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Theethmoidal labyrinthsconsist of two hollow blocks of bone.
The ethmoidal labyrinths are made up of multiple thin-walled compartments known as ethmoidal (air) cells.
As you get older, the number of cells grows.
These ethmoidal cells form what is more commonly referred to as theethmoid sinuses.
The outside edges of the ethmoidal labyrinths are referred to as thelamina papyraceaororbital lamina.
The cribriform plate is important as it forms part of the base of the skull.
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What Does the Ethmoid Bone Do?
Because of its central location in the face, the ethmoid bone is prone to fracture.
However, because there are other bones around it, the ethmoid bone is rarely fractured by itself.
If fractured, it is typically part of a complex NOE (nasoorbitoethmoid) fracture.
Adeviated septummay involve part of the perpendicular plate.
Depending on the severity of your case, you may not notice any symptoms.
However, more severe cases may cause nosebleeds and difficulty breathing through one nostril.
Ethmoid cancer is very rare and is typically categorized as a paranasal malignancy.
Prevalence is low in comparison to the more common paranasal malignancies in the maxillary or nasal sinuses.
As in all cancers, early detection improves rates of survival.
Your healthcare provider may also use a fiber optic scope to visualize inside your nose and sinus cavities.
Treatment of polyps in the ethmoid sinuses or correction of deviated septums can be performed surgically.
Proper diagnosis and treatment of an ethmoid bone/sinus canceror other paranasal cancers will involve multiple care providers.
This surgery is referred to as craniofacial resection.
Symptoms of ethmoiditis may include pain around the eyes, swelling, and loss of smell.
Trauma-related injuries require thorough assessment, and severe cases may call for surgery, especially in NOE fractures.
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