Crista galli

Last revised by Mostafa Elfeky ◉ on 12 Feb 2022

Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data

Citation:

Hacking C, Elfeky M, Sharma R, et al. Crista galli. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 19 Mar 2025) https://radiopaedia.org/articles/45496

DOI:

Permalink:

https://radiopaedia.org/articles/45496?embed_domain=external.radpair.com%25252527%2525255B0%2525255D%25252527%2525255B0%2525255Dfavicon.ico

rID:

45496

Article created:

27 May 2016, Craig Hacking ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was created Craig Hacking had no recorded disclosures.

View Craig Hacking's current disclosures

Last revised:

12 Feb 2022, Mostafa Elfeky ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was last revised Mostafa Elfeky had no recorded disclosures.

View Mostafa Elfeky's current disclosures

Revisions:

12 times, by 9 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures

Systems:

Central Nervous System, Head & Neck, Musculoskeletal, Paediatrics

Sections:

Anatomy

The crista galli is a thick, midline, smooth triangular process arising from the superior surface of the ethmoid bone, projecting into the anterior cranial fossa. It separates the olfactory bulbs, which lie on either side of it in the olfactory fossae of the cribriform plate. It serves as an anterior attachment for the falx cerebri. Immediately lateral to it are the nasal slits where the anterior ethmoidal nerves descend into the roof of the nasal cavity.

The crista galli may contain marrow or be pneumatised. On MRI, it may, therefore, appear T1 hyperintense if it contains marrow, or have a low signal and mimic a mass if pneumatised.

At birth, the anterior skull base is largely cartilaginous. Ossification of crista galli and perpendicular plate of the ethmoid bone begins around 2 months of age.