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

Variations in terminology

Examples of sagittal planes include: * The terms '' median plane'' or ''mid-sagittal plane'' are sometimes used to describe the sagittal plane running through the midline. This plane cuts the body into halves (assuming

bilateral symmetry Symmetry in biology refers to the symmetry observed in organisms, including plants, animals, fungi, and bacteria. External symmetry can be easily seen by just looking at an organism. For example, the face of a human being has a plane of symme ...

), passing through midline structures such as the

navel The navel (clinically known as the umbilicus; : umbilici or umbilicuses; also 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. Structure The u ...

and spine. It is one of the planes which, combined with the umbilical plane, defines the four quadrants of the human abdomen. * 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 crosses through the clavicle. ** Lateral sternal'' and ''parasternal'' planes. The term ''sagittal'' derives from the

Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...

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 with the upright bow that shot it would be one way to demonstrate the derivation of the term. Another explanation would involve the notching of the sagittal suture posteriorly by the lambdoidal suture —similar to feathers on an arrow. The

Oxford English Dictionary The ''Oxford English Dictionary'' (''OED'') is the principal historical dictionary of the English language, published by Oxford University Press (OUP), a University of Oxford publishing house. The dictionary, which published its first editio ...

indicates that ''sagittal'' in the sense of the sagittal suture along the vertex of the skull pre-dates other anatomical usage. * ''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 terminology, anatomical terms. Motion includes movement of Organ (anatomy), organs, joints, Limb (anatomy), limbs, and specific sections of the body. The terminology used de ...

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

coronal plane The dorsal plane (also known as the coronal plane or frontal plane, especially in human anatomy) is an anatomical plane that divides the body into Anatomical terms of location#Dorsal and ventral, dorsal and ventral sections. It is perpendicular t ...

. * 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.

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 twins at a gestational age 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