Axis and Plane

Axis and plane describe body movements in anatomy. An axis is an imaginary line around which movement occurs, and a plane is a flat surface along which movement takes place. They are always perpendicular to each other.

There are three main planes:

• Sagittal – divides the body into left and right

• Frontal (Coronal) – divides the body into front and back

• Transverse – divides the body into upper and lower

There are also three axes of rotation: sagittal, frontal, and vertical, each associated with movement in specific planes.