Transverse planes
Plana transversa
- Latin synonym: Plana horizontalia; Plana transversalia
- Synonym: Horizontal planes; Axial planes
Definition
Transverse planes (a.k.a. axial planes) refer to the horizontally-oriented planes which, when pass through the body in its anatomical position, divide it into upper and lower parts.
The transverse planes are intersected at right angles by the vertically-oriented coronal (side-to-side) and sagittal (antero-posterior) planes.
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>