Body Planes & Axis by

Frontal(Coronal) Plane

pjuarez3992 — 2025-01-16 16:05:57 UTC

The Frontal Plane is also known as an "imaginary line" or the coronal plane. It divides the body into the anterior and posterior position. This plane can also easily be remembered also by the plane that separates the "front" and "back". This plane helps distinguish side to side movements like arm abduction, leg abduction, and lateral flexion of the spine.

Sagittal(Lateral) plane

jcoronado4583 — 2025-01-16 16:15:09 UTC

The sagittal plane is when the body is divided vertically slicing the body to an unequal left to right side starting from the front side of the body to the back. The sagittal plane might or might not go through the body's midline, but if it does, it is called the midsagittal plane(midline) and divides the body equally into a left and right side while the sagittal plane does not.

Anteroposterior(Sagittal) Axis

pjuarez3992 — 2025-01-16 16:16:57 UTC

The anteroposterior axis is also known as the sagittal axis and runs perpendicular to the coronal plane. In simpler terms, this "imaginary line" runs from front to back through the center of the human body. This axis helps determine where sensory organs are located and where gastrulation occurs which is the process that creates and positions the cells of the three germ layers. The axis also allows for flexion and extension movements, such as cartwheels and movements at the hips, knees, and shoulders.

Transverse (Axial) Plane

dramos2700 — 2025-01-16 16:17:35 UTC

The transverse plane is an imaginary line that divides the superior and inferior parts of the body or the "top" and "bottom". The main function is to rotate the body such as shaking your head "no" or twisting your body. The transverse plane divides at the waist

Horizontal Axis(mediolateral)

jcoronado4583 — 2025-01-16 16:30:06 UTC

The mediolateral axis, called the horizontal axis, is perpendicular to the sagittal plane. It is an imaginary line that runs from side to side through the body. The position of the mediolateral axis allows for forward and backward movement in the sagittal plane.

Longitudinal Axis

dramos2700 — 2025-01-16 16:34:21 UTC

The longitudinal axis runs perpendicular to the transverse plane. It runs from top to bottom. Similar to the transverse plane, it allows the body to rotate.