- Characteristics of the sagittal plane
- When is it used?
- Other anatomical planes
- - Coronal or frontal plane
- - Horizontal, transverse or axial plane
- - Oblique plane
- References
The sagittal plane, medial, longitudinal or anteroposterior plane, is the anatomical, geometric and imaginary plane that divides the body into two sections given the neutral or standard anatomical position of a body.
This division of the body into sections is done in a vertical position. The imaginary line passes through the center of the body, sectioning it into the left (sinister) and right (dexter) side.
This plane divides the human body, as well as organs and other parts of the body, into different sections to describe the location of an organ or limb, the structures of the organs and limbs, and the movements of parts of the body.
The individual internal organs can also be divided with this plane for the identification of smaller structures in it.
Characteristics of the sagittal plane
The sagittal plane is parallel to the sagittal suture, imaginary dividing the human body into the left and right sides.
In clinical practice there may be several sagittal planes, however there is only one cardinal-sagittal plane. The cardinal term or main plane, is the only plane that divides the human body into equal segments.
In the sagittal plane forward and backward movements are observed, called flexion and extension.
In order to observe the movements in this plane, the human body must be observed in profile, that is, from the side of it.
When is it used?
The sagittal plane rotates around the horizontal frontal axis, allows describing the position of the body parts and is located parallel to the midsagittal plane.
The midsagittal plane is the imaginary axis that divides the body into two exactly equal parts.
In the same way, it applies to the human brain, where it allows dividing into the left and right sides, which would correspond to the left hemisphere and the right hemisphere respectively.
An MRI produces 3D images of the soft tissues in the body. The process can "divide" or "section" the brain along the sagittal planes to obtain detailed views of the organ to be examined and a diagnostic evaluation.
In this plane, the terminology used to describe the position of the structures with respect to the midsagittal plane are the terms medial and lateral.
Other anatomical planes
- Coronal or frontal plane
It is delimited by the height and width dimensions.
It is an equally vertical plane oriented transversely; that is, from right to left. Hence, it divides the human body into an anterior half and a posterior half.
- Horizontal, transverse or axial plane
It is a transversal plane, perpendicular to the two previous ones, that divides the body into an upper half and a lower half.
- Oblique plane
It is delimited by the width and depth dimensions. Little used, it is a plane with a vertical direction, anteroposterior and from right to left or from left to right, which divides the human body into two oblique halves.
References
- Boundless Anatomy and Physiology._ Mapping the Body. Taken from courses.lumenlearning.com.
- BC OpenTextbooks._ Anatomy and Physiology._ Anatomical Terminology._ Taken from opentextbc.ca.
- The Ruiz Liard Card. Human anatomy. 4th Edition. Volume 1. Editorial Médica Panamericana. General XIII-XV.
- Courtney Smith. Anatomy and Physiology Anatomical planes and cavities. Oct, 13 of 2007. Retrieved from dee: visiblebody.com.
- Anatomy body plans and sections. 07/01/2012. Recovered from: memorize.com.