Trauma Care After Resuscitation (TCAR) Practice Exam

Approximately how thick is the cribiform plate, making it a weak point?

0.5 millimeters 2 millimeters 5 millimeters 10 millimeters

Correct Answer:

0.5 millimeters

Explanation:

The cribiform plate is an extremely thin portion of the anterior skull base that separates the nasal cavity from the anterior cranial fossa. It is about 0.5 millimeters thick, which makes it a natural weak point in trauma. That ultra-thin thickness means a fracture can readily traverse this plate, potentially causing CSF rhinorrhea and increasing the risk of infection, while also risking damage to the olfactory nerves. In contrast, thicker options like 2, 5, or 10 millimeters would imply a much sturdier bone and are not characteristic of the most vulnerable skull-base regions in injury.

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