Types of planes of the human body

The anatomical planes and axes are imaginary surfaces that divide the human body to
facilitate both the description of its structure and its naming and study. Planes are
imaginary two-dimensional surfaces, and axes are one-dimensional imaginary cutting lines.
Anatomical planimetry is the set of coordinates, terms and conventional orientation points
used to describe the position of an anatomical structure within the body, as well as its
relationship with the rest of the anatomical elements present in the organism.
Knowledge of all planes, axes and anatomical orientation system is essential to allow fluid
and error-free communication between medical teams, whether in the description of image
studies or during the execution of invasive procedures.

The main characteristic that differentiates a plane from an axis is that a plane is two-
dimensional, while an axis is one-dimensional.

Anatomic position
To understand the anatomical planes and axes, you must initially understand what the
anatomical position is.
Anatomical position is the reference body position, which anatomists reached by consensus
to use the same terms of position and direction, and understand descriptions of body
anatomy universally. This anatomical position is described as a bipedal (standing) human
body, with horizontal view, upper limbs on each side and along the trunk, palms of the
hands open forward and the lower limbs together, with the toes pointing forward.
From this it is understood that the patient can be in any position: lying on his back, lying on
his stomach, lying on his side or sitting. The descriptions will always refer to the
anatomical position described above.
anatomical plans
The function of anatomical plans is to serve as a spatial reference to facilitate the
description and location of body organs and structures.
The anatomical planes mainly used for anatomical descriptions are three: sagittal or lateral,
coronal or frontal and horizontal, transverse or axial. However, there are bibliographies that
admit a fourth plane: oblique.

– Sagittal or lateral plane

It is delimited by the height and depth dimensions.

It is a plane with a vertical and anteroposterior direction; That is, it crosses the longitudinal
axis of the body and, therefore, divides it into a right half and a left half. These two halves
are completely asymmetrical.
 

– Coronal or frontal plane

It is delimited by the height and width dimensions.

It is an equally vertical plane oriented transversely; that is, from right to left. Therefore, it
divides the human body into an anterior half and a posterior half.
 

– Horizontal, transverse or axial plane

It is a transverse plane, perpendicular to the previous two, that divides the body into an
upper half and a lower half.
 

– Oblique plane
It is delimited by the width and depth dimensions. Little used, it is a plane with a vertical
direction, anteroposterior and from right to left or from left to right, which divides the
human body into two oblique halves.
body axes
In this anatomical context of description, the concept of axis refers to the point where an
imaginary cut is made to establish the position and situation of body structures.

Their function is to distinguish the distance or location of some organ or structure; for
example, whether one is medial (close to the midline) or more lateral (away from the
midline).

-There are 3 types of axes: sagittal, longitudinal and transverse.

– Sagittal

Refers to the ventrodorsal anteroposterior axis; That is, it crosses the body from front to
back, in a horizontal direction, and is perpendicular to the coronal planes.
– Longitudinal

Also called craniocaudal or superior inferior, it is vertical in direction, like an arrow that
crosses the body from the highest point of the skull in the direction of the feet, passing
through the center of gravity of the body.

– Transverse

Also known as laterolateral, it has a horizontal direction. It runs from one side of the body
to the other, perpendicular to the sagittal planes.

Anatomical terms of relationship

Once the anatomical planes and body axes have been established, it is important to know
the anatomical terms of relationship and comparison. These terms use planes and axes to
make sense of the anatomical description and their relative situation.

– Previous: that is ahead or in a preceding position.

– Posterior: which is behind or dorsal.

– Superior: located above.

– Inferior: located below.

– Cranial: closest to the skull, at the upper end of the trunk.

– Caudal: closest to the tail (cauda), lower end of the trunk.

– Medial: closest to the median sagittal plane.

– Proximal: located closer to the trunk or point of origin.

– Distal: located further from the trunk or the point of origin.

– Superficial: close to the surface.

– Deep: far from the surface.

– External: furthest from the center of an organ.

– Internal: close to the center of an organ.

– Axial: located in the sagittal axis.

– Ipsilateral: located on the same side.

– Contralateral: located on the opposite half of the body.

References

1. The Ruiz Liard Card. Human anatomy. 4th Edition. Volume 1. Panamericana
Medical Editorial. Generalities XIII-XV.
2. Courtney Smith. Anatomy and Physiology Anatomical planes and cavities. Oct,
13, 2007. Retrieved from: visiblebody.com
3. Anatomy body plans and sections. 01/07/2012. Retrieved from: memorize.com
4. Oliver Jones. January 6, 2018. Anatomical plans. Retrieved from:
Teachmeanatomy.info
5. Kinetic Anatomy with Web Resource—3rd Edition. Human Kinetics. 2012. pp.
31
6. Adam W. M., Gray. "YO". p. 4. ISBN 9788481748321.