Sagittal plane


In anatomy, the sagittal plane, or longitudinal plane, is an anatomical plane which divides the body into right and left parts. The plane may be in the center of the body and split it into two halves or away from the midline and split it into unequal parts.The anatomical term sagittal was coined by Gerard of Cremona.

Variations in terminology

Examples of sagittal planes include:
The term sagittal is derived from the Latin word , meaning "arrow". An image of an arrow piercing a body and passing from front to back 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.