A transverse plane is a plane that is rotated 90° from two other planes.

Anatomy

The transverse 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 anatomy and non-human anatomy, four principal planes are used: the median plane, ...

that is perpendicular to 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 divi ...

and the dorsal plane. It is also called the axial plane or horizontal plane, especially in human anatomy, but horizontal plane can be misleading with other animals. The plane splits the body into a cranial (head) side and caudal (tail) side, so in humans the plane will be horizontal (dividing the body into superior and inferior sections) but in quadrupeds it will be vertical.

Human anatomy

Clinically relevant anatomical planes

* Transverse ''

thoracic plane The mediastinum (from ;: mediastina) is the central compartment of the thoracic cavity. Surrounded by loose connective tissue, it is a region that contains vital organs and structures within the thorax, mainly the heart and its vessels, the es ...

'' * '' Xiphosternal plane'' (or xiphosternal junction) * '' Transpyloric plane'' * '' Subcostal plane'' * '' Umbilical plane'' (or transumbilical plane) * '' Supracristal plane'' * '' Intertubercular plane'' (or transtubercular plane) * '' Interspinous plane''

Associated structures

Surface projections of the organs of the trunk

* The transverse ''

'' ** Plane through T4 & T5 vertebral junction and sternal angle of Louis. ** Marks the: *** Attachment of costal cartilage of rib 2 at the sternal angle; *** Aortic arch (beginning and end); *** Upper margin of SVC; ***

Thoracic duct In human anatomy, the thoracic duct (also known as the ''left lymphatic duct'', ''alimentary duct'', ''chyliferous duct'', and ''Van Hoorne's canal'') is the larger of the two lymph ducts of the lymphatic system (the other being the right lymph ...

crossing; ***

Tracheal bifurcation The carina of trachea (also: "tracheal carina") is a ridge of cartilage at the base of the trachea separating the openings of the left and right main bronchi. Structure The carina is a cartilaginous ridge separating the left and right main br ...

; ***

Pulmonary trunk A pulmonary artery is an artery in the pulmonary circulation that carries deoxygenated blood from the right side of the heart to the lungs. The largest pulmonary artery is the ''main pulmonary artery'' or ''pulmonary trunk'' from the heart, and t ...

bifurcation; * The '' xiphosternal plane'' (a.k.a. xiphosternal junction) ** Anterior, inferior limit of

thoracic cavity The thoracic cavity (or chest cavity) is the chamber of the body of vertebrates that is protected by the thoracic wall (rib cage and associated skin, muscle, and fascia). The central compartment of the thoracic cavity is the mediastinum. Ther ...

; ** Marks the: *** Superior surface of the

liver The liver is a major metabolic organ (anatomy), organ exclusively found in vertebrates, which performs many essential biological Function (biology), functions such as detoxification of the organism, and the Protein biosynthesis, synthesis of var ...

; *** Respiratory diaphragm; *** Inferior border of the

heart The heart is a muscular Organ (biology), organ found in humans and other animals. This organ pumps blood through the blood vessels. The heart and blood vessels together make the circulatory system. The pumped blood carries oxygen and nutrie ...

; * The '' transpyloric plane'' ** Plane located halfway between the jugular notch and the upper border of the symphysis pubis; ** Typically located at the lower border of L1; ** Cuts through the

pylorus The pylorus ( or ) connects the stomach to the duodenum. The pylorus is considered as having two parts, the ''pyloric antrum'' (opening to the body of the stomach) and the ''pyloric canal'' (opening to the duodenum). The ''pyloric canal'' ends a ...

and the tips of the ninth costal cartilages; * The '' subcostal plane'' ** Transverse plane through the inferior border of

costal margin The costal margin, also known as the costal arch, is the lower edge of the chest (thorax) formed by the bottom edge of the rib cage. Structure The costal margin is the medial margin formed by the cartilages of the seventh to tenth ribs. It att ...

; ** Typically located at the superior border of L3, or transects L3; * The '' umbilical plane'' (or transumbilical plane) ** Located at the level of L3/L4 vertebral junction or IV disc; * The '' supracristal plane'' ** Located at the level of L4; ** Marks bifurcation of aorta; ** Most superior aspect of

iliac crest The crest of the ilium (or iliac crest) is the superior border of the wing of ilium and the superolateral margin of the greater pelvis. Structure The iliac crest stretches posteriorly from the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) to the posterio ...

; * The '' intertubercular plane'' (a.k.a. Transtubercular plane) ** Located at the level of L5; ** Marks origin of IVC; * The '' interspinous plane'' ** Transverse plane which transverses the anterior superior iliac spines. ** Typically located at the level of S1.

Engineering usages

* With gears a transverse plane is perpendicular to the axial plane and to the pitch plane. * With an MRI machine the plane perpendicular to the direction of the main magnetic field is called the transverse plane.

References