What is the Difference Between Sagittal and Coronal Plane?

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The sagittal and coronal planes are two of the three main anatomical planes used to describe the location of structures in the human body. The difference between them lies in the direction they divide the body:

  • Sagittal Plane (Lateral Plane): A vertical plane running from front to back, dividing the body or any of its parts into right and left sides. This plane is also referred to as the longitudinal plane. It divides the body into sinister and dexter (left and right) portions.
  • Coronal Plane (Frontal Plane): A vertical plane running from side to side, dividing the body or any of its parts into anterior and posterior portions. This plane divides the body into front and back (also called dorsal and ventral or anterior and posterior) sections.

In summary, the sagittal plane divides the body into left and right halves, while the coronal plane divides the body into front and back halves.

Comparative Table: Sagittal vs Coronal Plane

The sagittal and coronal planes are two anatomical planes used to describe the location of structures in the human body. Here is a table highlighting the differences between them:

Feature Sagittal Plane Coronal Plane
Definition A vertical plane that divides the body into left and right parts. A vertical plane that divides the body into front (anterior) and back (posterior) sections.
Specific Sagittal Plane Median sagittal plane, which passes down the midline of the body, separating it into equal halves. No specific coronal plane mentioned in the search results.
Movements Involved Flexion, extension, hyperextension, dorsiflexion, and plantar flexion. No specific movements mentioned in the search results.

Both the sagittal and coronal planes are used in medical imaging, descriptions of body motion, and embryology. They help to divide the human body into different sections to describe an organ or limb's location, structures in organs and limbs, and the movements of body parts.