Bulla lamella

Last revised by Maxime St-Amant on 7 Apr 2018

The bulla lamella is a structure that, when intact, forms the posterior boundary of the frontal recess. When pneumatized, it forms the ethmoid bulla.

Gross anatomy

It is frequently incomplete and often does not reach the roof of the ethmoid at the skull base. Under these circumstances, the frontal recess may communicate directly with the suprabullar and retrobullar recesses 1.

It has a variable pattern of pneumatization and, when pneumatized, it becomes more difficult to appreciate on imaging. It usually can be seen when the anterior and posterior wall of the ethmoid bulla fuse superiorly 2.

The anterior ethmoidal artery is usually located 1-2 mm behind the bulla lamella 3.

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