Anatomical Planes
a) Sectional Plans: four plans are fundamental:
1) Median Plane: vertical plane that runs longitudinally through the body, dividing it into right and left halves. Parasagittal, used by neuroanatomists and neurologists, is unnecessary because any plane parallel to the midplane is sagittal by definition. A near median plane is a Paramedian plane.
2) Sagittal Planes: they are vertical planes that pass through the body, parallel to the median plane.
3) Front Planes (Coronal): are vertical planes that pass through the body at right angles to the median plane, dividing it into anterior (front) and posterior (back) parts.
4) Transverse Planes (Horizontal): they are planes that pass through the body at right angles to the coronal and median planes. Divides the body into upper and lower parts.
b) Tangential Plans: suppose, now, that the individual, in an anatomical position, is inside a glass coffin. The six walls that make up the coffin would represent the tangential planes:
Plan Top: would be the wall above the head
Bottom Plane: is what lies under the feet.
Plan Previous: is the plane that passes in front of the body.
Plan Posterior: this is what would form the bottom of the coffin, that is, behind the back.
Plans Sides: these are the two side walls, which limit the members (upper and lower), on the right and left sides.