The sagittal plane (/ˈsæɪtəl/; also known as the longitudinal plane) is an anatomical plane that divides the body into right and left sections.[1] 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).

Sagittal plane
The main anatomical planes of the human body, including mid-sagittal or median (red), parasagittal (yellow), frontal or coronal plane (blue) and transverse or axial plane (green)
Mid-sagittal section of a human skull,
by Leonardo da Vinci, c. 1489
Details
Identifiers
Latinplana sagittalia
TA98A01.2.00.003
TA249
FMA11361
Anatomical terminology

The term sagittal was coined by Gerard of Cremona.[2]

Variations in terminology edit

Examples of sagittal planes include:

The term sagittal is derived from the Latin word sagitta, meaning "arrow". An image of an arrow piercing a body and passing from front (anterior) to back (posterior) on a parabolic trajectory would be one way to demonstrate the derivation of the term. Another explanation would be the notching of the sagittal suture posteriorly by the lambdoidal suture —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.[7]
  • Extension and flexion are the movements of limbs within the sagittal plane.[8]
  • Abduction and adduction are terms for movements of limbs within the coronal plane.[9]
  • Sagittal plane movements include flexion, extension, and hyperextension, as well as dorsiflexion and plantar flexion.[10]

Additional images edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Mark Vella (May 2008). Anatomy for Strength and Fitness Training. New Holland Publishers. pp. 16–. ISBN 978-1-84773-153-1. Retrieved 4 January 2013.[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ Arráez-Aybar, Luis-A; Bueno-López, JL; Raio, N (2015). "Toledo school of translators and their influence on anatomical terminology". Annals of Anatomy - Anatomischer Anzeiger. 198: 21–33. doi:10.1016/j.aanat.2014.12.003. PMID 25667112.
  3. ^ "Median plane" at Dorland's Medical Dictionary
  4. ^ Kapit, Wynn (2014). The anatomy coloring book. San Francisco: Pearson. ISBN 9780321832016.
  5. ^ "parasagittal". Merriam-Webster dictionary. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
  6. ^ Yokochi, Chihiro; Rohen, Johannes W. (2006). Color Atlas of Anatomy: A Photographic Study of the Human Body. Hagerstown, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. pp. 2006. 217 p. ISBN 0-7817-9013-1.
  7. ^ Movement Terminology (PDF). Arizona State University.
  8. ^ Winslow, Valerie (Dec 23, 2008). Classic Human Anatomy: The Artist's Guide to Form, Function, and Movement. Watson-Guptill. pp. 32–33. ISBN 978-0823024155.
  9. ^ Winslow, Valerie (Dec 23, 2008). Classic Human Anatomy: The Artist's Guide to Form, Function, and Movement. Watson-Guptill. pp. 34–35. ISBN 978-0823024155.
  10. ^ Kinematic Concepts for Analyzing Human Motion. In: Hall SJ. eds. Basic Biomechanics, 7e. McGraw-Hill; Accessed January 25, 2021.