Anatomical planes are imaginary flat surfaces providing a universal reference for describing the location and orientation of structures within the human body. Among the three principal planes, the axial plane is used for understanding structural relationships and for modern diagnostic imaging.
Understanding the Axial Division
The axial plane is a horizontal surface that divides the body or any of its parts into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) portions. This division is perpendicular to the long axis of the body. Visualizing this concept can be simplified by imagining the body as a loaf of bread; each slice cut horizontally represents an axial section. This provides a cross-sectional view of internal structures.
This plane is also frequently referred to as the transverse or horizontal plane. The term “axial” is derived from the Latin word “axis,” meaning “axle” or “pivot,” which relates to how it intersects the body’s main axis. Understanding this division is a prerequisite for interpreting many forms of medical scans and for precise anatomical descriptions.
The Axial View in Medical Imaging
The application of the axial plane is apparent in medical imaging technologies like Computed Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). These scanners capture data in a series of thin, sequential axial “slices” through a specific body region. This process allows physicians to examine the body’s internal anatomy layer by layer.
When viewing these images, a medical professional sees a top-down or bottom-up perspective of the body’s internal organization. For instance, an axial CT scan of the abdomen would show the relationship between the kidneys, the spine, and the aorta from an inferior viewpoint. This view is useful for locating tumors, assessing organ damage, or identifying internal bleeding. The collection of these individual slices can also be used to construct detailed three-dimensional models.
Differentiating from Other Anatomical Planes
To appreciate the axial view, it is helpful to contrast it with the other two principal anatomical planes. The sagittal plane is a vertical plane that divides the body into left and right portions. A midsagittal plane specifically divides the body into equal left and right halves. The term “sagittal” comes from the Latin word for “arrow,” referencing the sagittal suture of the skull.
The coronal plane, also known as the frontal plane, is another vertical plane that runs perpendicular to the sagittal plane. It divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) sections. The word “coronal” is derived from the Latin “corona,” meaning crown, as the plane follows the placement of a crown on the head. The sagittal and coronal planes provide vertical orientations that complement the horizontal view of the axial plane.