Coronal Section of the Skull, Anterior View

Description

Anterior coronal section through the adult male cranium brings the frontal bone and calvaria into profile while opening the midface and orbital region. Medially, the nasal cavity is bisected, with the perpendicular plate and cribriform region of the ethmoid positioned superior to the nasal septum and inferior to the anterior cranial fossa. Laterally, each orbit is cut to emphasize the orbital walls, with the lacrimal and ethmoid contributions medially and the frontal bone superiorly; inferiorly, the maxilla forms the orbital floor and continues into the alveolar process bearing the maxillary teeth. Coronal anatomy at this level matters when you need to correlate paranasal sinus disease and orbital complications, because the thin lamina papyracea of the ethmoid sits immediately medial to the orbit and can be a route for postseptal spread. Endoscopic sinus surgery also lives in this corridor. A few millimeters separate ethmoid air cells from the orbit and anterior cranial base, so this sectional view clarifies the relationships that drive risks such as orbital hematoma, cerebrospinal fluid leak, or injury near the cribriform plate. Use this illustration to teach sectional skull anatomy in gross anatomy, head and neck modules, or radiologic anatomy courses that pair cadaveric sections with coronal CT of the face and sinuses. It also fits well in ENT and ophthalmology materials explaining orbital cellulitis, blowout fracture planning relative to the maxillary roof, or surgical landmarks around the ethmoid labyrinth and frontal sinus recess. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.