Body Planes

Definition

• A plane is an imaginary flat surface.
• The body is often sectioned or cut along a surface or plane, referred to as a body plane.
• An unlimited number of sections can be made along an unlimited number of planes.
• When a section of the body or an organ is cut, it is named after the plane along which it occurs.

Major Body Planes

1. Sagittal Planes

• Run from the top of the body to the bottom, front to back.
• Divide the body into left and right sections.
• Midsagittal Plane: A sagittal plane that runs down the midline of the body and divides the body into equal halves.

2. Coronal (Frontal) Planes

• Run side to side and top to bottom.
• Divide the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) sections.

3. Transverse Planes

• Run side to side and front to back.
• Divide the body into upper (superior) and lower (inferior) sections.
• Also known as horizontal planes.

Oblique Planes

• Any plane that is not sagittal, coronal, or transverse.
• Runs side to side, but also slightly up and down, and slightly front to back.

Summary

• Planes are essential for understanding the division of the body into sections for anatomical study.
• Midsagittal, coronal, transverse, and oblique planes help in identifying cross-sections of the body.