Chapter 2: The Body & Body Planes

anatomical position

Body is standing erect with arms at side of body, palms of hands facing forward, and eyes looking straight ahead; legs are parallel with feet and toes pointing forward.

transverse plane

Horizontal plane that divides the body into upper (superior) and lower (inferior) sections; also called horizontal plane.

longitudinal section

Internal view of body produced by lengthwise slice along long axis of structure.

cross-section

Internal view of body produced by slice perpendicular to long axis of structure.

frontal section

Sectional view of body produced but cut along frontal plane.

sagittal section

Sectional view of the body produced by cut along sagittal plane.

transverse section

Sectional view of the body produced by cut along transverse plane.

sagittal plane

Vertical plane te divides the body into left and right sections

frontal plane

Vertical plane that divides the body into front (anterior or ventral) and back (posterior or dorsal) sections; also called coronal plane.

median plane

When sagittal plane passes through the middle of the body, dividing it into equal right and left halves; also called midsagittal plane.