Sagittal plane

Sagittal plane
The main anatomical planes of the human body, including mid-sagittal or median (red), parasagittal (yellow), frontal or coronal plane (blue) and transverse or axial plane (green)
Mid-sagittal section of a human skull, by Leonardo da Vinci, c. 1489
Details
Identifiers
Latin	plana sagittalia
TA	A01.2.00.003
FMA	71926
Anatomical terminology []

A sagittal plane is an anatomical plane which divides the body into right and left parts. The plane may be in the centre of the body and split it into two halves (mid-sagittal) or away from the midline and split it into unequal parts (para-sagittal).

Most elements of Irish dancing occur in the sagittal plane.

Examples include:

The term sagittal is derived from the Latin word sagitta, meaning "arrow". An image of an arrow piercing a body and passing from front (anterior) to back (posterior) on a parabolic trajectory would be one way to demonstrate the derivation of the term. Another explanation would be the notching of the sagittal suture posteriorly by the lambdoidal suture —similar to feathers on an arrow.

Sectional planes of the brain

Identical twins at a gestational age of 15 weeks, shown in coronal and sagittal plane, respectively

Brain anatomy (sagittal)