Human Anatomy and Physiology 1
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1. Body Planes
Planes of the body are critical to know as you begin your A&P studies because they
provide important reference points throughout the human body.
The three planes of the body are the frontal (coronal), transverse, and sagittal planes.
Sagittal Plane: Cuts or divides the body into right and left portions. Always associate the
sagittal plane with your right and left side, like the right and left turning signals of a car.
When a driver wants to signal a right turn, the right blinker turns on and the left blinker
remains off. Alternatively, when a left signal is needed, only the left blinker should be
activated.
Coronal (Frontal) Plane: Cuts or divides the body into front (anterior) and back
(posterior) portions. Imagine standing in line at the grocery store. People stand behind
one another at a frontal plane.
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Transverse (Horizontal) Plane: Cuts or divides the body into top (superior) and bottom
(inferior) portions. Think of the sun setting over a body of water: you have the sun at the
top, the ocean at the bottom, and the transverse plane (horizon) in the middle. In this
way, a sunset creates a transverse plane.
, lOMoARcPSD| 58625580
1. Body Planes
Planes of the body are critical to know as you begin your A&P studies because they
provide important reference points throughout the human body.
The three planes of the body are the frontal (coronal), transverse, and sagittal planes.
Sagittal Plane: Cuts or divides the body into right and left portions. Always associate the
sagittal plane with your right and left side, like the right and left turning signals of a car.
When a driver wants to signal a right turn, the right blinker turns on and the left blinker
remains off. Alternatively, when a left signal is needed, only the left blinker should be
activated.
Coronal (Frontal) Plane: Cuts or divides the body into front (anterior) and back
(posterior) portions. Imagine standing in line at the grocery store. People stand behind
one another at a frontal plane.
, lOMoARcPSD| 58625580
Transverse (Horizontal) Plane: Cuts or divides the body into top (superior) and bottom
(inferior) portions. Think of the sun setting over a body of water: you have the sun at the
top, the ocean at the bottom, and the transverse plane (horizon) in the middle. In this
way, a sunset creates a transverse plane.
