Anatomical Body Planes and Sections – Mapping the Body
A plane is a 2D slice through 3D space means visualizing 3D objects from 2D, which can be thought of as a glass sheet. In anatomical planes, there are different lines used to divide the human body.
The primary application of anatomical planes is used in medical imaging techniques such as CT scans, MRI scans, Sonography, PET scans.
Know here what human body cavities are in the human body.
The anatomical planes can be used to identify, describe and locate the positions of the patient’s internal organs and structure. Individual organs of patents can also be divided by planes to help identify smaller structures within that organ.
Anatomical Planes of the Body
Planes are imaginary flat surfaces used to divide the body or organs into definite areas.
There are four major planes of the body is-
1. Sagittal plane or longitudinal plane
It draws a vertical line that divides the body into a left section and a right section which means divides the body into right and left parts.
a. Midsagittal plane
The plane may be in the center of the body and split into two halves (mid-sagittal).
b. Para-sagittal plane
The plane may be away from the midline and split into unequal parts (para-sagittal).
2. Frontal or Coronal plane
A vertical line that divides the body into a front (anterior) section and back (posterior) section means any vertical plane that divides the body into ventral and dorsal sections.
3. Transverse (axial) plane or cross-sectional or horizontal planes
A horizontal line that divides the body into an upper (superior) section and a lower (inferior) section means divides the body into upper and lower halves.
4. Oblique plane
Oblique means “not parallel”, it is any type of angle other than a horizontal or vertical angle.
It passes through the body or organ at an angle between the transverse plane and either midsagittal, parasagittal, or frontal plane.
Know what is anatomical position is? And directional terms of the body.
List of anatomical planes in a human-
| 1. Sagittal plane a. Midsagittal plane | A vertical line divides the body into right and left sides. Divides the body at midline into two halves (equal right and left sides). |
| 2. Frontal (Coronal) plane | Divides the body into the anterior (front) and posterior (back) sections. |
| 3. Transverse plane | Divides the body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) sections. |
| 4. Oblique plane | (“not parallel”), Planes that divide the body at an angle. |
Body Sections
Body sections are flat surfaces resulting from cuts through body structure. The section is named according to the plane on which the cut is made.
There are five major sections of the body are-
1. Midsagittal section
A cut along the midsagittal plane is the midsagittal section.
2. Frontal section
A cut along the frontal plane is the frontal section.
3. Transverse section
A cut along the transverse plane is a transverse section or cross-section.
4. Longitudinal section
A cut along the longitudinal plane is the longitudinal section.
5. Oblique section
A cut along the oblique plane is an Oblique section.
Read here what are anatomy and physiology and their importance and application?
