Final answer:
The notch receiving the cribriform plate of the ethmoid bone lies in the anterior cranial fossa, where the frontal and ethmoid bones connect, playing a significant role in cranial structure and the passage of olfactory nerves.
Step-by-step explanation:
The notch where the frontal bone and the ethmoid bone connect, which receives the cribriform plate of the ethmoid bone, is located in the floor of the anterior cranial fossa. The ethmoid bone is a key structure in the cranial cavity, consisting of the crista galli, a small bony projection, and the cribriform plate, a flat area with numerous small openings called olfactory foramina. These foramina allow nerve branches from the olfactory regions of the nasal cavity to pass through to the brain. The cribriform plates form the narrow roof of the nasal cavity and also contribute to the floor of the anterior cranial fossa, while the lateral sides of the ethmoid bone form the lateral walls of the upper nasal cavity, part of the medial orbit wall, and give rise to the superior and middle nasal conchae. Moreover, the perpendicular plate of the ethmoid bone forms the upper part of the nasal septum, while the vomer bone forms the lower portion.