Skull · Irregular bone
Ethmoid Bone
The ethmoid is a small, delicate, sponge-like bone between the eyes. It forms part of the nasal cavity and eye sockets and carries the nerves for our sense of smell.
What it is
The ethmoid is a light, honeycomb-like bone deep in the middle of the face, between the nasal cavity and the eye sockets.
Where it is
Between and behind the eyes, at the roof of the nose.
What it does
Forms part of the nasal cavity, the eye sockets and the base of the skull, and gives passage to the smell (olfactory) nerves.
When things go wrong
Common injuries and conditions
- Ethmoid sinusitis
- Fracture with severe facial injury
Education and reference only. This explains the anatomy in plain terms; it is not a diagnosis. A severe injury, a visibly deformed limb, or the inability to move or bear weight needs urgent assessment — call 999 or go to A&E for a serious injury.
Did you know?
An interesting fact
The nerves that give us our sense of smell pass through tiny holes in the ethmoid bone.
Answers
Ethmoid Bone: frequently asked questions
What does the ethmoid bone do?
The ethmoid is a small bone between the eyes that forms part of the nose and eye sockets and carries the nerves for smell.
Explore the skull
Related bones
Sources
Where this is drawn from
- NHS — Anatomy and body systems
- Gray's Anatomy for Students (Drake, Vogl, Mitchell)
- TeachMeAnatomy — skeletal system
Building an anatomy or patient-education resource?
We create clear, accurate, referenced medical reference content and decision aids for teams.