Answer:
The anterior cranial fossa is a region located at the front part of the cranial base, which houses various structures that play important roles in the body. Several key structures pass through the anterior cranial fossa. These include:
1. Frontal bone: The frontal bone forms the anterior part of the cranial vault and contributes to the structure of the anterior cranial fossa.
2. Cribriform plate: This thin, sieve-like structure is a part of the ethmoid bone. It contains numerous small openings called foramina through which olfactory nerve fibers pass, connecting the nasal cavity with the brain.
3. Anterior ethmoid air cells: These air-filled spaces are located in the ethmoid bone and are adjacent to the cribriform plate. They contribute to the middle and superior nasal conchae and participate in the drainage of mucus from the nasal cavity.
4. Olfactory bulbs: Situated above the cribriform plate, the olfactory bulbs are part of the olfactory system and receive sensory information for the sense of smell.
5. Olfactory tracts: These nerve fiber bundles extend posteriorly from the olfactory bulbs, carrying the sensory input from the olfactory bulbs to the brain.
6. Anterior cerebral arteries: The paired anterior cerebral arteries arise from the internal carotid arteries and course along the midline of the brain, passing through the anterior cranial fossa. They supply blood to the medial and superior aspects of the cerebral hemispheres.
These are some of the significant structures that pass through the anterior cranial fossa. Please note that there may be other smaller structures present in this region as well, but the mentioned structures are the most prominent.