Summary
IN a study of 65 cribriform plates from dried adult skulls the classical arrangement of the openings into medial, middle and lateral rows was observed in all but 2 cases. A nasal slit was present in 34 plates while in a further 16 the slit was replaced by a group of large openings. In 15 (23%) of the plates there was no nasal slit or analogous feature for the transmission of the anterior ethmoidal nerve. Bony defects establishing communication with the ethmoidal air cells were present in 9 plates. The microscopic appearance of these defects is consistent with their production by a process of “focal atrophy”. The dimensions of these abnormal openings, of the nasal slits and of the openings in the medial row of the plate are sufficiently large for them to be the site of leakage in non-traumatic cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhoea.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Arey, L. B. 1974. Developmental Anatomy, 7th edn. (revised). Philadelphia, Saunders.
Berryman, G. H. 1955. Cerebrospinal rhinorrhoea simulating allergic rhinitis. J. Allergy 26, 71.
Bracewell, A. and Carter, R. L. 1963. Primary spontaneous cerebrospinal rhinorrhoea. J. Laryngol. 77, 777.
Coleman C. C., and Ireland, E. 1947. The surgical treatment of spontaneous cerebrospinal rhinorrhoea. Ann. Surg. 125, 718.
Granne B., 1970. Spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhoea. Acta Oto-lar. 70, 383.
Hooper A. C. B., 1971. Sphenoidal defects—possible cause of cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhoea. J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiat. 34, 739.
Jauregg, W. 1936. Vom niese. Wien med Wschr. 86, 9.
Miller C., 1926. Case of hydrocephalus chronicus with some unusual symptoms and appearances on dissection. Trans med. chur. Soc. Edinb. 2, 243.
Nussey, A. M. 1966. Spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhoea. Brit. med. J. i, 1579.
O’Connell, J. E. A. 1964. Primary spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhoea. J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiat. 27, 241.
Ommaya, A. K. 1970. Personal communication.
Ommaya, A. K., 1976. Spinal fluid fistulae. Clin. Neurosurg. 23, 362.
Ommaya, A. K., Di Chiro, G., Baldwin, M. and Pennybacker, J. B. 1968. Non-traumatic cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhoea. J. Neurol. Neuro. 31, 214.
Schechter, M. M., Rovit, R. L. and Nelson, K. 1969. Spontaneous “high pressure CSF rhinorrhoea”. Cerebrospinal fluid leakage caused by long-standing increased intracranial pressure. Brit. J. Radiol. 42, 619.
Thompson, St. C. 1899. The cerebrospinal fluid; its spontaneous escape from the nose. London, Cassell.
Troland, E. 1960. The surgical treatment of spontaneous cerebrospinal rhinorrhoea. Arch. Oto-lar. 72, 254.
Zenglein, J. P., Philippides, D., Buchheit, F., Eber, A. M. and Thiebaut, J. 1973. Rhinorrhoea et meningitis purulentes recidivantes symptomar tiques d’une breche osteomeningese congentale probleme etiopathogenique. Oto-Neuro-Opht. 45, 207.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hooper, A.C.B. The cribriform plate and cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhoea. Ir J Med Sci 151, 31–35 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02940139
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02940139