Texas Medical Assistant Certification Practice Test

Which plane is a vertical division of the body dividing the body into equal or unequal right and left sections?

1. Frontal

2. Sagittal

3. Transverse

4. Coronal

The correct answer is: Sagittal

The correct answer is the sagittal plane, which is defined as a vertical division of the body that separates it into right and left sections. This plane can create either equal (midsagittal) or unequal (parasagittal) divisions, depending on how it cuts through the body. In medical and anatomical studies, understanding the sagittal plane is essential as it helps describe the positioning of structures and movements in relation to the body's orientation. For instance, movements such as flexion and extension primarily occur in this plane, reflecting its significance in gait analysis and rehabilitation. Other planes serve different functions: the frontal plane divides the body into front (anterior) and back (posterior) sections, while the transverse plane separates the body into upper (superior) and lower (inferior) portions. The coronal plane is often used interchangeably with the frontal plane but is essentially a synonymous term in this context. Thus, while they each serve important roles in anatomical descriptions, they do not perform the specific function of dividing the body into right and left sections like the sagittal plane does.