Body Planes and Sections

A section

An actual cut or slice through a structure or a piece removed by slicing a structure

Planes

Imaginary flat surfaces passing through the body or an organ

Coronal (Frontal) plane

Lies vertically and divides body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) parts

Median (Midsagittal) Plane

Specific sagittal plane that lies vertically in the middle (divides the body into equal left and right halves)

Parasagittal Plane

Specific sagittal plane that lies vertically in the midline (divides the body into unequal parts

Transverse plane

Runs horizontally and divides body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) parts

Oblique plane

Is any imaginary plane that passes through the body or an organ at an angle that is not parallel to the standard anatomical planes. It divides the body diagonally, producing sections that are angled rather than vertical or horizontal.