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2 Sectioning Planes

Sectioning Planes:

Imagine slicing into a loaf of your favorite bread. You could cut this loaf in several different directions to get that perfect piece of toast. Just like how you might argue with someone about the right way to slice bread (horizontally? vertically? diagonally?), anatomists have their own standardized ways to view things—luckily, it’s a bit more scientific than bread!

Anatomical sectioning planes are square-like dividers which separate the body into halves. There are 3 main planes:

Table 3 Types of anatomical cross sections

Cross Section type Description:
Coronal (frontal) Separates the front and back sides of the body
Sagittal (longitudinal)

  • Parasagittal planes
  • Midsagittal planes
 Separates the left and right sides of the body

  • Like sagittal planes, but divide the specimen in unequal left and right portions
  • Divides the body perfectly down the midline
  • Transverse (axial)
 Separates the upper and lower parts of the body

The image below depicts several sectioning planes relevant to anatomical positions:

Sectioning Planes Diagram © 2025 by Alyssandra Mammoliti is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International.

Figure 2 Coronal, sagittal, transverse sectioning planes (left to right)

 

Activity:

For an example of a midsagittal sectioning, check out this 3D model of the brain!

 

 

Do you know your sectioning planes?

Hint: The coronal and frontal plane both describe a cross section which divide the body into anterior and posterior sections. Note how all 3 cross sections have 2 names (sagittal and longitudinal; transverse and axial). Review the different sectioning planes through clicking here.

 

License

Icon for the Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License

Foundations of Human Anatomy - Macanatomy Copyright © by Joseph Lawton is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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