The sagittal plane divides the body into left and right sides. There is a single mid-sagittal plane that divides the body directly down the midline into two equal left and right halves.
What organs are on the left? List at least three
What organs are on the right? List at least three
The frontal plane divides the body into frontal and dorsal halves.
What organs will be anterior of the frontal plane?
What organs will be posterior of the frontal plane?
The transverse plane divides the body into top and bottom halves.
What organs are in the top portion of the body, above the transverse plane?
What organs are inferior to the transverse plane?
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
Sagittal Plane
The sagittal plane divides the body into left and right halves. The mid-sagittal plane divides the body into two equal halves down the middle.
- Organs on the left:
- Left lung
- Left kidney
- Spleen
- Organs on the right:
- Right lung
- Right kidney
- Liver
The left and right organs are located symmetrically on either side of the mid-sagittal plane. However, due to anatomical asymmetry, some organs are more prominent or large on one side, such as the liver on the right.
Frontal (Coronal) Plane
The frontal (coronal) plane divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) halves. It is useful for understanding body parts from a perspective that cuts through the body vertically.
- Anterior (front) organs:
- Heart
- Lungs
- Stomach
These organs are located closer to the front of the body, in front of the frontal plane. The anterior side includes the chest and abdominal regions.
- Posterior (back) organs:
- Spinal cord
- Kidneys
- Vertebrae
These organs are situated closer to the back of the body, behind the frontal plane. The posterior side involves structures such as the spine and muscles of the back.
Transverse Plane
The transverse plane divides the body into top (superior) and bottom (inferior) halves, creating horizontal sections. It helps in distinguishing which organs are in the upper and lower portions of the body.
- Organs above the transverse plane (superior):
- Brain
- Heart
- Lungs
These organs are located in the upper portion of the body, above the transverse plane. The brain, housed in the cranium, and the heart and lungs, located in the chest cavity, are all in the superior half of the body.
- Organs below the transverse plane (inferior):
- Stomach
- Intestines
- Bladder
These organs are located in the lower part of the body, below the transverse plane. The abdominal cavity houses the stomach and intestines, while the bladder is found in the pelvic cavity.
The concepts of planes of the body help describe anatomical locations and are crucial for understanding body positioning during medical diagnoses, surgeries, and imaging techniques like CT scans and MRIs. By using these reference planes, medical professionals can describe exactly where organs and structures are located in relation to each other in the body.