subject: What are anatomical planes of the body? [print this page] What are anatomical planes of the body? What are anatomical planes of the body?
Medical professionals, movement therapists and those employed in the sports industry often refer to sections of the body in terms of anatomical planes (flat surfaces). These planes are imaginary lines running either vertically or horizontally through the body. The terms are used to describe specific body parts and movements.
There are three main planes of the body:
Sagittal (median) plane: this plane divides the body into right and left parts. The easiest way to remember which way this plane runs is to imagine a vertical line running from the middle of the back of the head right through to the tip of the nose. Sagitta is Latin for arrow' if this helps you remember. We all have one eye, ear, arm and leg on each side of the sagittal/median plane.
Coronal (frontal) plane: Is the vertical plane running in the opposite direction to the sagittal plane, so imagine a line running from one shoulder across the chest to the other shoulder. This plane divides the body into anterior and posterior portions (front and back).
Transverse (horizontal) plane: This horizontal plane runs through the body at an abdominal level, and divides the body into upper and lower sections. The easiest way to remember this is everything above the naval falls under the upper section and everything below in the lower section.
Each plane has its own specific joint action. Actions associated with the sagittal plane will either be flexion (any movement that brings a body part inwards/towards the fetal position) or extension (any movement that extends a body part outwards). An easy way to remember this is to think I flex my muscle' which brings the arm inwards, and I extend my hand to you' pushing your hand out to shake hands.
The joint actions of the frontal plane are abduction (any movement that moves the arm/leg away from the body) and adduction (any movement that moves the arm/leg towards the body). To remember the correct way round think abduct (to take away).
The joint actions of the transverse plane include: internal and external rotation, pronation (forearm or foot faces inward) and supination (forearm or foot faces out).
If you are medical or sports student or practitioner you'll be require to be familiar with these types of movements so it might be worthwhile getting yourself a book with clear, simple, colour illustrations of the planes and movement descriptions.
Key movement descriptions you'll undoubtedly be required to know include:
Adduction: Movement towards the body
Abduction: Movement away from the body
Circumduction: Movement in which the distant end of a bone moves in a circle (think circling foot)
Lateral flexion: Bending the head/body sideways
Extension: Moving away from the body (think extending hand)
Flexion: Moving towards the body (think flexing bicep)
Pronation: Rotating forearm to turn palm down
Supination: Rotating forearm to turn palm up
Depression: Downward movement
Elevation: Upward movement
Dorsiflexion: Pointing the toes upward
Plantar flexion: Pointing the toes down
Protraction: Movement forward (think throwing a punch)
