Anatomical Plane and Sections

• Fundamental planes


  Fixed, imaginary flat surfaces that pass through the different body parts
• Sections


  The exposed surfaces produced by these planes
• When we study a body region, we often view it in sections, and we look at only one flat surface of a three-dimensional structure</b>
• Sectioning an organ or the body by using different planes often results in different views
• Sagittal plane


  A vertical plane that divides an organ or the body part into right and left halves
• Sagittal section


  Body section produced by sagittal plane
• Mid-sagittal Plane or Median Plane


  Passes through the midline of an organ or the body and divides the organ or the body into equal right and left halves
• Mid-sagittal section or Median section


  Body section produced by mid-sagittal or median plane
• Parasagittal Plane


  Does not pass through the midline but divides an organ or the body into unequal halves
• Parasagittal section


  Body section produced by parasagittal plane
• Frontal or Coronal Plane


  Divides an organ or the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) portions
• Frontal or coronal section


  Body section produced by frontal or coronal plane
• Transverse or Cross-sectional or Horizontal Plane


  Divides an organ or the body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) portions
• Transverse or cross or horizontal section


  Body section produced by transverse plane
• Oblique Plane


  A plane that passes through an organ or the body at an angle between the transverse plane and either the sagittal or frontal plane
• Oblique section


  Body section produced by oblique plane