Longitudinal planes

Plana longitudinalia

  • Latin synonym: Plana verticales
  • Synonym: Vertical planes

Definition

Longitudinal planes refer to the vertically-oriented planes which are aligned along the long axis of the body. These could be sagittal or coronal.

The sagittal plane refers to a vertically-oriented, antero-posterior plane which, when passes through the body in its anatomical position, divides it into right and left parts.

The coronal plane refers to a vertically-oriented, side-to-side plane which, when passes through the boy in its anatomical position, divides it into anterior and posterior parts.

Both sagittal and coronal longitudinal planes perpendicularly intersect the transverse (or horizontal) plane.

References

Text written by Muhammad A. Javaid, MD, PhD © 2023 IMAIOS.

  • Drake, R.L., Vogl, A.W. and Mitchell, A.W.M. (2009). ‘Chapter 1: The Body’ in Gray’s anatomy for Students. (2nd ed.) Philadelphia PA 19103-2899: Elsevier, pp. 6.

  • SEER Training Modules, Intro to the Human Body, Anatomical Terminology. U. S. National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute. February 2nd, 2023 < https://training.seer.cancer.gov/anatomy/body/terminology.html>