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>


Comparative anatomy in animals

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