Final answer:
The cribriform plate is located in the cranial cavity, forming the roof of the nasal cavity and the floor of the anterior cranial fossa. It contains small openings for olfactory nerve branches to pass through to the brain and is part of the ethmoid bone.
Step-by-step explanation:
The cribriform plate is a vital structure located in the skull. It can be found in the cranial cavity, forming part of the floor of the anterior cranial fossa right at the midline, and serving as the roof of the nasal cavity. This structure is made up of small, flattened areas with many small openings, known as olfactory foramina, and is formed by the ethmoid bone.
The cribriform plate has a crucial role in the sense of smell. The olfactory foramina within the cribriform plate allow the nerve branches from the olfactory areas of the nasal cavity to pass through and enter the brain. Adjacent to this crucial plate is the crista galli, which is a small upward bony projection that functions as an attachment point for brain coverings.