Anatomical Planes of the Body

Question 1

Sagittal Plane

Answer 1

aka Median Plane

Plane that runs down through the body, dividing the body into left and right portions.

Question 2

Midsagittal Plane

Answer 2

Type of the sagittal plane that runs through the median plane and divides along the line of symmetry
EQUAL

Question 3

Parasagittal Plane

Answer 3

Type of the sagittal plane that is parallel to midline but does not divide into equal left and right portions
UNEQUAL

Question 4

Coronal Plane

Answer 4

aka Frontal Plane
Plane that runs perpendicular to the sagittal plane and divides the body into anterior and posterior (front and back) portions.

Question 5

Transverse Plane

Answer 5

aka Horizontal/Axial Plane
Horizontal plane that runs perpendicular to the sagittal plane and divides the body into upper and lower portions; also called cross-section.

Question 6

Longitudinal Axis

Answer 6

aka Vertical Axis

North to South in relation to anatomical position

Question 7

Antero-posterier Axis

Answer 7

Front to Back in relation to anatomical position (at the center of the body)

Question 8

Mediolateral Axis

Answer 8

aka Frontal/Horizontal Axis

Left to Right in relation to anatomical position