The sagittal plane (; also known as the longitudinal plane) is an

anatomical plane An anatomical plane is a hypothetical plane used to transect the body, in order to describe the location of structures or the direction of movements. In human and animal anatomy, three principal planes are used: * The sagittal plane or latera ...

that divides the body into right and left sections. It is perpendicular to the

transverse Transverse may refer to: *Transverse engine, an engine in which the crankshaft is oriented side-to-side relative to the wheels of the vehicle *Transverse flute, a flute that is held horizontally * Transverse force (or ''Euler force''), the tangen ...

and coronal planes. The plane may be in the center of the body and divide it into two equal parts ( mid-sagittal), or away from the midline and divide it into unequal parts (para-sagittal). The term ''sagittal'' was coined by

Gerard of Cremona Gerard of Cremona (Latin: ''Gerardus Cremonensis''; c. 1114 – 1187) was an Italian translator of scientific books from Arabic into Latin. He worked in Toledo, Kingdom of Castile and obtained the Arabic books in the libraries at Toledo. Some of ...

Variations in terminology

Examples of sagittal planes include: * The terms ''

median plane The median plane also called a mid-sagittal plane is used to describe the sagittal plane as it bisects the body vertically through the midline marked by the navel, dividing the body exactly in left and right side. The term parasagittal plane is u ...

'' or ''mid-sagittal plane'' are sometimes used to describe the

sagittal plane The sagittal plane (; also known as the longitudinal plane) is an anatomical plane that divides the body into right and left sections. It is perpendicular to the transverse and coronal planes. The plane may be in the center of the body and div ...

running through the midline. This plane cuts the body into halves (assuming bilateral symmetry), passing through midline structures such as the

navel The navel (clinically known as the umbilicus, commonly known as the belly button or tummy button) is a protruding, flat, or hollowed area on the abdomen at the attachment site of the umbilical cord. All placental mammals have a navel, although ...

and spine. It is one of the planes which, combined with the Umbilical plane, defines the four quadrants of the

human abdomen The abdomen (colloquially called the belly, tummy, midriff, tucky or stomach) is the part of the body between the thorax (chest) and pelvis, in humans and in other vertebrates. The abdomen is the front part of the abdominal segment of the torso. ...

. * The term ''parasagittal'' is used to describe any plane parallel or adjacent to a given sagittal plane. Specific named parasagittal planes include: ** The

midclavicular line {{short description, None Anatomical "lines", or "reference lines," are theoretical lines drawn through anatomical structures and are used to describe anatomical location. The following reference lines are identified in ''Terminologia Anatomica'' ...

crosses through the

clavicle The clavicle, or collarbone, is a slender, S-shaped long bone approximately 6 inches (15 cm) long that serves as a strut between the shoulder blade and the sternum (breastbone). There are two clavicles, one on the left and one on the r ...

. ** Lateral sternal'' and ''parasternal'' planes. The term ''sagittal'' is derived from the

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...

word ''

sagitta Sagitta is a dim but distinctive constellation in the northern sky. Its name is Latin for 'arrow', not to be confused with the significantly larger constellation Sagittarius 'the archer'. It was included among the 48 constellations listed by t ...

'', meaning "arrow". An image of an arrow piercing a body and passing from front (anterior) to back (posterior) on a parabolic

trajectory A trajectory or flight path is the path that an object with mass in motion follows through space as a function of time. In classical mechanics, a trajectory is defined by Hamiltonian mechanics via canonical coordinates; hence, a complete tra ...

would be one way to demonstrate the derivation of the term. Another explanation would be the notching of the

sagittal suture The sagittal suture, also known as the interparietal suture and the ''sutura interparietalis'', is a dense, fibrous connective tissue joint between the two parietal bones of the skull. The term is derived from the Latin word ''sagitta'', meanin ...

posteriorly by the

lambdoidal suture The lambdoid suture (or lambdoidal suture) is a dense, fibrous connective tissue joint on the posterior aspect of the skull that connects the parietal bones with the occipital bone. It is continuous with the occipitomastoid suture. Structure T ...

—similar to feathers on an arrow. * ''Sagittal axis'' or ''anterior-posterior axis'' is the axis perpendicular to the coronal plane, i.e., the one formed by the intersection of the sagittal and the transversal planes * ''Coronal axis'', ''medial-lateral axis'', or ''frontal axis'' is the axis perpendicular to the sagittal plane, i.e., the one formed by the intersection of the coronal and the transversal planes. * '' Extension'' and ''

flexion Motion, the process of movement, is described using specific anatomical terms. Motion includes movement of organs, joints, limbs, and specific sections of the body. The terminology used describes this motion according to its direction relativ ...

'' are the movements of limbs within the sagittal plane. * '' Abduction'' and ''

adduction Motion, the process of movement, is described using specific anatomical terms. Motion includes movement of organs, joints, limbs, and specific sections of the body. The terminology used describes this motion according to its direction relativ ...

'' are terms for movements of limbs within the

coronal plane The coronal plane (also known as the frontal plane) is an anatomical plane that divides the body into dorsal and ventral sections. It is perpendicular to the sagittal and transverse planes. Details The coronal plane is an example of a longit ...

. * Sagittal plane movements include flexion, extension, and hyperextension, as well as dorsiflexion and plantar flexion.Kinematic Concepts for Analyzing Human Motion. In: Hall SJ. eds. ''Basic Biomechanics, 7e''. McGraw-Hill; Accessed January 25, 2021. https://accessphysiotherapy-mhmedical-com.libaccess.lib.mcmaster.ca/content.aspx?bookid=1586§ionid=99981270

Additional images

File:Blausen 0104 Brain x-secs SectionalPlanes.png, Sectional planes of the brain File:Coronal and sagittal views of identical twins.png,

Identical twin Twins are two offspring produced by the same pregnancy.MedicineNet > Definition of TwinLast Editorial Review: 19 June 2000 Twins can be either ''monozygotic'' ('identical'), meaning that they develop from one zygote, which splits and forms two ...

s at a

gestational age In obstetrics, gestational age is a measure of the age of a pregnancy which is taken from the beginning of the woman's last menstrual period (LMP), or the corresponding age of the gestation as estimated by a more accurate method if available. Su ...

of 15 weeks, shown in coronal and sagittal plane, respectively File:Brain Anatomy (Sagittal).png, Brain anatomy (sagittal)

References

{{Authority control Anatomical planes

Variations in terminology

Additional images

See also

References