Body Planes

​Learning Target

​Differentiate the sagittal, midsagittal, frontal, and transverse planes

​

​Verbalize why it is important to visualize the body in different planes

​Body Planes

​Watch this great video...

​Section vs Plane

​Section= a part of the body created by a plane

​

​Plane= an imaginary surface that divides the body into sections

​Why divide the body into planes?

• ​Sectioning the body or an organ results in different views

• ​Think about the kidney:

  • ​longitudinal section would look different than a cross section (transverse section)

Multiple Choice

The midsagittal plane separates the body into...

• top and bottom

• left and right

• front and back

Multiple Choice

The frontal plane separates the body into...

• anterior and posterior

• medial and lateral

• proximal and distal

• cranial and caudal

Multiple Choice

The transverse plane separates the body into...

• anterior/posterior

• superior/inferior

• medial/lateral

• proximal/distal

Multiple Choice

Which anatomical plane is the ONLY horizontal plane?

• sagittal

• transverse

• frontal

Multiple Choice

Which side is facing you?

• Anterior

• Posterior

• Lateral

• Medial