Summary
Highlights
Anatomical planes are imaginary cuts that traverse the body, helping to describe its three-dimensional structure, anatomical sections used in studies, and medical imaging like CT scans. They also aid in describing body movements in conjunction with axes of movement.
The sagittal median plane is a vertical plane that divides the body into two equal halves: a right side and a left side. Other sagittal planes run parallel to the median sagittal plane.
Frontal planes are also vertical, dividing the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) parts. This plane is also known as the coronal plane.
Transverse planes are horizontal planes that divide the body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) parts. Radiologists often refer to these as transaxial or axial planes.
While planes are imaginary cuts, axes are imaginary lines around which body movements occur. Planes and axes are associated because movements happen within planes and around axes, much like hinges on a door.
The latero-lateral axis (also known as the transverse axis) passes through the body from one side to the other, perpendicular to the sagittal plane. Movements of flexion and extension occur around this axis. Imagine a pin entering the shoulder from the side; only flexion and extension movements are possible.
The antero-posterior axis (also known as the sagittal axis) passes through the body from front to back, perpendicular to the frontal plane. Movements of abduction (moving away from the body) and adduction (moving towards the body) occur around this axis. If a pin enters the shoulder from front to back, only abduction and adduction are possible.
The longitudinal axis passes through the body from top to bottom, perpendicular to the transverse plane. Rotational movements occur around this axis. If a pin enters the head from top to bottom, only rotational movements are possible.
A summary of the anatomical planes: sagittal (vertical, divides into right/left), frontal (vertical, divides into anterior/posterior), and transverse (horizontal, divides into superior/inferior). A summary of the axes of movement: latero-lateral (flexion/extension in sagittal plane), antero-posterior (abduction/adduction in frontal plane), and longitudinal (rotation in transverse plane).