Overview
This lecture introduces anatomical planes, focusing on terminology used to describe ways to divide the body or objects for study, along with advice on understanding multiple terms for clinical and exam settings.
New Resources and Student Questions
- New resources about anatomical planes are added to the "Chapter one student questions and DocDoc answers" section.
- Instructors use different terms across books and exams, so familiarity with several is important.
Anatomical Planes: Definitions and Applications
- The midsagittal (or mid sagittal) view divides the body into equal left and right halves.
- The sagittal plane divides the body into left and right parts but not necessarily equal.
- The parasagittal plane divides the body into unequal left and right portions, not on the midline.
- The coronal plane divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) parts.
- The transverse plane divides the body into superior (top) and inferior (bottom) parts.
- These concepts can be applied to objects like cakes or basketballs as examples.
- A cut exactly in the middle for an object can be called "mid transverse" (equal top and bottom), but this is rarely possible for the human body due to its asymmetry.
- The prefixes "mid-" and "para-" can apply to any anatomical plane, not just sagittal.
Practical Advice
- Focus on understanding core terms: mid sagittal and para sagittal for left/right divisions.
- Be aware older or alternate terms might still appear in exams or resources.
- The course materials aim to clarify which terms are used and expected.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Sagittal Plane — divides the body into left and right parts.
- Midsagittal Plane — divides the body into equal left and right halves.
- Parasagittal Plane — divides the body into unequal left and right parts, parallel to the midsagittal.
- Coronal Plane — divides the body into front (anterior) and back (posterior) portions.
- Transverse Plane — divides the body into upper (superior) and lower (inferior) parts.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the "Chapter one student questions and DocDoc answers" for updates and examples.
- Practice identifying planes on diagrams and common objects.
- Post any further questions about terminology or planes to the class discussion board.