Sagittal plane

Sagittal plane
Diagram showing sagittal, coronal and transverse planes.
Latin	plana sagittalia

Sagittal plane is a vertical plane which passes from front to rear dividing the body into right and left sections.

Variations

Examples 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),^[1] passing through midline structures such as the navel and spine. It is one of the lines defining the right upper quadrant of the human abdomen.

• It is also worth mentioning that terms such as parasagittal are sometimes used to describe a plane parallel to the midline; however, this term is unnecessary, since any plane parallel to and on either side of the medial plane is sagittal by definition.

• In general, planes that are parallel to the sagittal plane, but do not pass through the midline, are known as parasagittal.
  • The midclavicular line crosses through the clavicle.
  • Other sagittal lines/planes include the lateral sternal and parasternal.^[2]

Terminology

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 is the axis perpendicular to the sagittal plane, i.e., the sagittal axis is formed by the intersection of the coronal and the transversal planes.

• Abduction and adduction are terms for movements of limbs relative to the coronal plane.

• Coronal axis or frontal axis is the axis perpendicular to the coronal plane, i.e., the one formed by the intersection of the sagittal and the transversal planes. Extension and flexion are the movements of limbs relative to the sagittal plane.

See also

• Anatomical terms of location
• Coronal plane
• Transverse plane

References

1. ^ "Median plane" at Dorland's Medical Dictionary
2. ^ Yokochi, Chihiro; Rohen, Johannes W.. 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. 

This anatomy article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.v · Categories: Anatomy Anatomy stubs Wikimedia Foundation. 2010. Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР Mister Donut Fruitvale, Oakland, California Look at other dictionaries: sagittal plane — n MIDSAGITTAL PLANE also any plane parallel to a midsagittal plane: a parasagittal plane …   Medical dictionary sagittal plane — noun Any imaginary plane parallel to median plane …   Wiktionary sagittal splitting of mandible — intraoral osteotomy of the ascending mandibular ramus and posterior body of the mandible in the sagittal plane for correction of prognathism, retrognathism, or open bite; an alternative procedure confines the split to the body of the mandible …   Medical dictionary Sagittal — Sag it*tal, a. [L. sagitta an arrow: cf. F. sagittal.] 1. Of or pertaining to an arrow; resembling an arrow; furnished with an arrowlike appendage. [1913 Webster] 2. (Anat.) (a) Of or pertaining to the sagittal suture; in the region of the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English Sagittal suture — Sagittal Sag it*tal, a. [L. sagitta an arrow: cf. F. sagittal.] 1. Of or pertaining to an arrow; resembling an arrow; furnished with an arrowlike appendage. [1913 Webster] 2. (Anat.) (a) Of or pertaining to the sagittal suture; in the region of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English sagittal — [saj′it l] adj. [ModL sagittalis < L sagitta, arrow] 1. of or like an arrow or arrowhead 2. Anat. a) designating or of the suture between the two parietal bones along the length of the skull b) designating, of, or in the longitudinal plane of… …   English World dictionary sagittal suture — n the deeply serrated articulation between the two parietal bones in the median plane of the top of the head * * * see suture * * * sutura sagittalis …   Medical dictionary median sagittal plane — planum medianum …   Medical dictionary plane — 1. A two dimensional flat surface. See planum. 2. An imaginary surface formed by extension of a point through any axis or two definite points, in reference especially to craniometry and to pelvimetry. SYN: planum. [L. planus, flat] Addison …   Medical dictionary Sagittal — A vertical plane passing through the body which divides it into left and right sides. * * * Resembling an arrow; in the line of an arrow shot from a bow, i.e., in an anteroposterior direction; referring to a s. plane or direction. SYN: sagittalis …   Medical dictionary 18+ © Academic, 2000-2024 Contact us: Technical Support, Advertising Dictionaries export, created on PHP, Joomla, Drupal, WordPress, MODx. Mark and share Search through all dictionaries Translate… Search Internet Share the article and excerpts Direct link … Do a right-click on the link above and select “Copy Link”