4) Anatomical Planes

The anatomical planes are used when discussing a joint and more specifically, the motion of the limb which the joint initiates. These planes are also helpful when opening up the body in order to describe certain areas, such as body cavities (hollow spaces in the body which typically hold organs).

  • Coronal Plane:

The coronal plane divides the body / body's structures into an anterior (front) side and a posterior (back side).

  • Transverse (Axial) Plane

The transverse plane divides the body into a superior (closer to the head) side and an inferior (away from the head) side.

  • Sagittal Plane:

Say the sagittal plane shown in the image is not cutting the body equal on both sides. It is cutting the body vertically, making the body have a left side and a right side.

Now, say the sagittal plane in the picture did cut the body exactly in half. It would then be called a midsagittal (also called median) plane. The midsagittal plane is a type of sagittal plane which cuts the body vertically exactly in half.

  • Oblique Plane: This is a type of plane not shown in the picture, but it is important to know. This type of plane cuts at a diagonal.

Note: The oblique plane does not have to cut the body at a certain degree to be considered an oblique plane just as how the coronal plane, transverse plane, and sagittal plane do not have to cut the body, say, into halves to be considered coronal, transverse, or sagittal.

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