Transumbilical plane

The transumbilical plane or umbilical plane, is an example of a transverse (or horizontal or axial) reference plane in the human body. Anteriorly, it passes through the umbilicus, while posteriorly it is situated at the level of the intervertebral disc between the third (L3) and fourth (L4) lumbar vertebrae.

The transumbilical plane perpendicularly intersects the median sagittal plane in the midline, thus dividing the abdomen into four quadrants, namely the right upper, right lower, left upper and left lower quadrants. This division of abdomen into four quadrants–along with the conventional method of dividing abdomen into nine quadrants–makes it convenient for the clinicians to describe the location of viscera and the pathological lesions associated with them.