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
Latin	plana sagittalia
TA98	A01.2.00.003
TA2	49
FMA	11361
Anatomical terminology [edit on Wikidata]

In anatomy, the sagittal plane (/ˈsædʒɪtəl/), or longitudinal plane, is an anatomical plane which divides the body into right and left parts.^[1] The plane may be in the center of the body and split it into two halves (mid-sagittal) or away from the midline and split it into unequal parts (para-sagittal).The anatomical term sagittal was coined by Gerard of Cremona.^[2]

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),^[3] passing through midline structures such as the navel and spine. It is one of the planes which, combined with the Umbilical plane, defines the four quadrants of the human abdomen.^[4]
The term parasagittal is used to describe any plane parallel or adjacent to a given sagittal plane.^[5] Specific named parasagittal planes include:
- The midclavicular line crosses through the clavicle.
- Lateral sternal and parasternal planes.^[6]

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

Sectional planes of the brain
Identical twins at a gestational age of 15 weeks, shown in coronal and sagittal plane, respectively
Brain anatomy (sagittal)

References

^ 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.
^ 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.
^ "Median plane" at Dorland's Medical Dictionary
^ Kapit, Wynn (2014). The anatomy coloring book. San Francisco: Pearson. ISBN 9780321832016.
^ "parasagittal". Merriam-Webster dictionary. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
^ 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.
^ http://www.asu.edu/courses/kin335/documents/Movement%20Terminology.pdf^{[bare URL PDF]}
^ 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.
^ 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.
^ Kinematic Concepts for Analyzing Human Motion. In: Hall SJ. eds. Basic Biomechanics, 7e. McGraw-Hill; Accessed January 25, 2021. https://accessphysiotherapy-mhmedical-com.libaccess.lib.mcmaster.ca/content.aspx?bookid=1586&sectionid=99981270

v t e Anatomical planes and lines
Sagittal plane	Median plane front (Anterior median line/Midsternal line, Parasternal line, Midclavicular line, Anterior axillary line, Midaxillary line) back (Posterior median line, Scapular line, Posterior axillary line)
Transverse plane	Thoracic plane Transpyloric plane Subcostal plane Transumbilical plane Supracristal plane Intertubercular plane Interspinous plane
Coronal/frontal plane	Sternal plane

Variations in terminology

Additional images

See also

References