This crest sits on the medial surface of the perpendicular plate of the bone. It courses obliquely from supero-anterior to infero-posterior. It is parallel to and above the longer conchal crest. This ridge connects the bases of the orbital and sphenoidal processes. It articulates with the ethmoid bone. The perpendicular plate just inferior to this crest contributes to the lateral wall of the middle nasal meatus, while the plate just superior to this crest forms part of the lateral wall of the superior meatus.

The term ethmoid comes from the Greek term ethmos meaning sieve. Galen called the bone the sieve-like bone because of the many small foramina that transmit the olfactory nerves to the nasal cavity. Crest is a term applied to a ridge of bone. The Latin term used for this is crista.

Crista ethmoidalis maxillae

Crête ethmoïdale