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:

• Coronal (frontal): separates the front and back sides of the body
• Sagittal (longitudinal): separates the left and right sides of the body
  • Parasagittal planes: like sagittal planes, but divide the specimen in unequal left and right portions
  • Midsagittal planes: 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:

fig 2. sectioning planes

Activity:

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

Do you know your sectioning planes?