EASY TRICKS for Anatomical Body Planes and Sections [Direction/Position]

Summary

This educational video introduces the concept of anatomical position and body planes, essential for understanding human anatomy. It explains the standard anatomical position and clarifies the difference between body planes and sections. The script uses mnemonic devices like 'SCT' for sagittal, coronal, and transverse planes, and provides visual examples to distinguish between them. The video aims to simplify complex anatomical concepts, making them accessible for viewers interested in medical and scientific topics.

Takeaways

• 🧍 The standard anatomical position is an upright standing pose with arms at sides and palms forward, providing a universal reference for anatomy.
• 👁 When in anatomical position, 'right' and 'left' refer to the patient's sides, not the observer's perspective.
• ✂️ Body planes are imaginary lines that divide the body into sections for different views, aiding in the description of anatomical structures.
• 📏 The three main body planes are sagittal, coronal, and transverse, remembered by the abbreviation 'SCT'.
• 🟢 The sagittal plane divides the body into right and left sections, with the midsagittal plane being the exact middle.
• 🔵 The coronal plane, also known as the frontal plane, divides the body into front and back sections.
• 🟡 The transverse plane, or axial plane, divides the body into top and bottom sections, providing a top view of the body.
• 🤔 Longitudinal planes run perpendicular to the transverse plane, including both the sagittal and coronal planes.
• 💭 Oblique planes are any planes that are not horizontal or vertical, running at various angles through the body.
• 🗝️ The prefixes 'para-' and 'trans-' are associated with specific types of planes, indicating 'beside' and 'across' respectively.
• 📚 Understanding these planes and sections is crucial for describing the location and direction of anatomical features in medical studies.

Q & A

What is the standard anatomical position?

The standard anatomical position is a body orientation used to describe anatomical planes, sections, and directional terms. It involves standing upright with the head and eyes directed straight ahead, upper limbs hanging down at the sides with palms facing forward, and lower limbs together with feet flat on the ground facing forward.

Why is the standard anatomical position important?

The standard anatomical position is important because it provides a universal and consistent way of discussing anatomy, creating clear reference points when describing anatomical positions or using anatomical terms.

What is the difference between body planes and body sections?

Body planes are imaginary lines drawn through an upright body in anatomical position that divide the body into sections or portions. Body sections, on the other hand, are the portions of the body created by the cut from the plane.

How many main body planes are there and what are they?

There are three main body planes: the sagittal plane, the coronal plane, and the transverse plane.

What does the abbreviation 'SCT' stand for and how does it help in remembering the main body planes?

The abbreviation 'SCT' stands for Sagittal, Coronal, and Transverse planes. It helps in remembering the order and the names of the three main body planes.

What is the midsagittal plane and how is it different from a parasagittal plane?

The midsagittal plane is a specific sagittal plane that runs through the midline of the body, dividing it into equal right and left portions. It is also known as the median plane. A parasagittal plane, however, is any off-center sagittal plane that divides the body into unequal right and left portions and runs parallel to the midsagittal plane.

How can the terms 'sagittal' and 'side view' help in remembering the sagittal plane?

The terms 'sagittal' and 'side view' both start with the letter 'S', which can help in remembering that when a cut is made through the sagittal plane, it provides a side view of the body.

What is the coronal plane and how does it divide the body?

The coronal plane, also known as the frontal plane, is a vertical plane that runs from top to bottom and right to left, dividing the body into a front section and a back section.

What is the transverse plane and how does it provide a top view of the body?

The transverse plane, also known as the axial or horizontal plane, is a horizontal line that runs from right to left and front to back, dividing the body into a top section and a bottom section, thus providing a top view of the body.

What are longitudinal planes and how are they related to the transverse plane?

Longitudinal planes are any planes that are perpendicular to the transverse plane. Both the sagittal and coronal planes run perpendicular to the transverse plane, making them examples of longitudinal planes.

What is an oblique plane and how does it differ from the major body planes?

An oblique plane is any plane that is not horizontal or vertical, meaning it does not fall into the categories of sagittal, coronal, or transverse planes. It can run at any angle through the body as long as it is not aligned with the major planes.

Outlines

00:00

🧍 Introduction to Anatomical Position and Body Planes

This paragraph introduces the concept of the anatomical position, which is a standardized body orientation used to describe anatomical planes and sections, as well as directional terms. The anatomical position is depicted through an image of a man standing upright with specific alignments of limbs and hands. It emphasizes the importance of this position in providing a universal reference for anatomical discussions. The paragraph also distinguishes between body planes and sections, explaining that planes are imaginary lines that divide the body into sections, allowing for the description of anatomical structures from different views.

05:03

🔍 Exploring Major Body Planes and Sections

This paragraph delves into the specifics of the three main body planes: sagittal, coronal, and transverse, using the acronym 'SCT' to aid memorization. The sagittal plane is described as a vertical division creating right and left sections, with the midsagittal plane being the central line splitting the body into equal halves. The coronal plane, also known as the frontal plane, is another vertical division that separates the body into front and back sections. Lastly, the transverse plane, or axial plane, is a horizontal division that cuts the body into top and bottom sections. The paragraph also explains how these planes provide different views of the body and mentions additional planes such as longitudinal and oblique, which run perpendicular to the transverse plane or at angles not aligned with the major planes, respectively.

Keywords

💡Anatomical Position

The anatomical position is a standard body orientation used as a reference for describing anatomical planes, sections, and directional terms. It is a universal and consistent way to discuss anatomy, providing clear reference points. In the video, the anatomical position is described as standing upright with the arms at the sides and palms facing forward, which serves as the basis for understanding body planes and sections.

💡Body Planes

Body planes refer to imaginary lines drawn through the body in anatomical position that divide it into sections or portions. These planes can be vertical or horizontal and are essential for describing the location or direction of anatomical structures. The script mentions the three main body planes—sagittal, coronal, and transverse—and their role in providing different views of the body.

💡Sections

Sections are the portions of the body created by the cuts made along the body planes. They are the result of dividing the body into parts, such as right and left, upper and lower, or front and back sections. The video script uses the term 'sections' to illustrate how body planes allow us to view and describe different parts of the body.

💡Sagittal Plane

The sagittal plane is one of the main body planes, running from top to bottom and front to back, dividing the body into right and left sections. The midsagittal plane is a specific sagittal plane that runs through the body's midline, creating equal right and left portions. The script uses the sagittal plane to explain side views of the body and mentions the sagittal suture as an example related to this plane.

💡Coronal Plane

The coronal plane, also known as the frontal plane, is another vertical body plane that runs from top to bottom and right to left, dividing the body into front and back sections. The script associates the coronal plane with a front view of the body and uses the coronal suture as an example to help remember this plane.

💡Transverse Plane

The transverse plane, also referred to as the axial or horizontal plane, is a body plane that runs from right to left and front to back, dividing the body into top and bottom sections. It provides a top view of the body. The script uses the 'T' shape resulting from this plane's division and the prefix 'trans' to help remember the transverse plane.

💡Longitudinal Plane

A longitudinal plane is any plane that is perpendicular to the transverse plane, meaning it runs vertically or parallel to the body's length. The script mentions that both the sagittal and coronal planes are examples of longitudinal planes, emphasizing their vertical orientation.

💡Oblique Plane

An oblique plane is any plane that is not horizontal or vertical, meaning it runs at an angle through the body. The script describes oblique planes as odd and traveling at strange angles, differentiating them from the main body planes.

💡Anatomical Directional Terms

Anatomical directional terms are used to describe the spatial relationships between body parts. The script mentions that these terms will be explained in a subsequent video, indicating their importance in understanding body orientation and spatial relationships within anatomy.

💡Midsagittal Plane

The midsagittal plane is a specific type of sagittal plane that runs exactly down the midline of the body, creating equal right and left portions. The script uses the midsagittal plane to illustrate the concept of a median plane and provides mnemonic devices like 'mid,' 'median,' and 'middle' to remember its central position.

💡Parasagittal Plane

A parasagittal plane is any sagittal plane that is not centered on the body's midline, resulting in unequal right and left portions. The script explains that parasagittal planes run parallel to the midsagittal plane but are not in the midline, using the prefix 'para' to indicate their position alongside the midsagittal plane.

Highlights

Introduction to the channel focusing on simplifying medical and science topics.

Explanation of the anatomical position and its importance in describing anatomical planes, sections, and directional terms.

Illustration of the standard anatomical position with a picture of a man standing upright.

Clarification of the distinction between the patient's right/left and the observer's perspective when in anatomical position.

Definition and explanation of body planes as imaginary lines dividing the body into sections.

Introduction of the concept of body sections created by the cuts from body planes.

Mnemonic 'SCT' to remember the three main body planes: sagittal, coronal, and transverse.

Description of the sagittal plane, dividing the body into right and left sections, with the midsagittal plane being the exact midline.

Midsagittal plane mnemonic using the word 'mid', 'median', and 'middle'.

Explanation of parasagittal planes as off-center sagittal planes dividing the body into unequal portions.

Coronal plane description, dividing the body into front and back sections, also known as the frontal plane.

Mnemonic for the coronal plane using the term 'frontal' to remember the front view it provides.

Introduction of the transverse plane, dividing the body into top and bottom sections, also known as the axial or horizontal plane.

Mnemonic for the transverse plane using the shape 'T' and 'V' and the prefix 'trans' to remember its horizontal nature.

Discussion of additional planes such as longitudinal and oblique planes and their relationship to the main body planes.

Mnemonic for longitudinal planes using the globe's longitudinal lines to remember their vertical orientation.

Mnemonic for oblique planes using the word 'odd' and the prefix 'oblique' to remember their angled orientation.

Conclusion summarizing the importance of understanding anatomical position, planes, and sections for medical and scientific study.

Transcripts

Welcome back to the channel where  medical and science topics are made easy.

Today we’re going to talk about the anatomical  position, along with body planes and sections.

You’re going to learn several tricks  that will help you remember the different  

planes and sections of the body, so  make sure to watch until the end.

You’ll also want to hit that subscribe  button because the next video is on anatomy  

directional terms which will take what we  learn today and show you how it’s used.

Finally, make sure to turn on the  captions down below and read along.  

This will help you remember everything.

In order to understand the different body planes

we need to learn what the  standard anatomical position is.

The standard anatomical position refers to the  body orientation used to describe things like

anatomical planes or sections which  we are going to talk about in this video

as well as anatomical directional terms  which we’ll talk about in the next video.

It basically provides a universal,  consistent way of discussing anatomy

and it creates clear reference  points when describing anatomical  

positions or using anatomical terms.

We can use the picture of the man to  illustrate the standard anatomical position.

The correct position is standing upright,

with the head and eyes directed straight ahead.

The upper limbs are hanging down at the sides,

and slightly away from the trunk so  the hands are not touching the sides.

The palms are facing forward,

and the thumbs are pointing away from the body.

The lower limbs are together,

and the feet are flat on  the ground facing forward.

When someone is in the anatomical position, right and left refer to the patient’s right and left side  

and not as if you were looking at the patient.

In other words, if you were looking at the  patient their right side will be your left side  

and their left side will be your right side as  indicated by the labels “R” and “L” on the screen.

Now that we have a good understanding  of the anatomical position,  

let’s talk about the different planes of the body.

The terms body planes and sections  are often used interchangeably  

but they actually have different  definitions, so let’s take a look at them.

First, what is a body plane?

Body planes are imaginary lines drawn through  an upright body that's in anatomical position.

The major planes or imaginary lines  can run vertically or horizontally.

And they divide the body  into sections or portions.

For example, the planes might divide  the body into right and left sections,  

upper and lower sections, or front and back  sections depending on the direction of the cut.

The body planes provide different  views or sections of the body,  

which then allows us to describe the location or  direction of anatomical structures or features.

Now that we know what body planes  are, how about body sections?

Well, we hinted to it earlier.

Sections are the portions of the body  created by the cut from the plane.

So again that could be right and left  sections, upper and lower sections,  

or front and back sections  depending on the slice of the plane.

The simple way to think about  the terms is the plane is the  

imaginary line that cuts the body into sections,  

and this allows us to look at different views of  the body depending on the direction of the cut.

Let's go through the major body planes and take a look at some example sections

and all of this will begin to make sense.

There are 3 main body planes and then a couple  minor ones we’re going to talk about at the end.

A simple trick to remember  the 3 main body planes is to

take the word section, since we’re talking about  body planes and sections, and abbreviate it "SCT".

This will help you remember  sagittal, coronal, and transverse.

The sagittal plane is the green cut labeled  “S” on the image, the coronal plane is the  

blue cut labeled “C”, and the transverse  plane is the yellow cut labeled “T”.

If we use the abbreviation SCT, you can also  remember the first 2 are vertical planes which  

are sagittal and coronal, and the last one is  a horizontal plane which is the transverse.

We’re now going to talk about each  plane starting with the sagittal plane.

As we mentioned earlier,

the sagittal plane is one of the vertical planes.

It's an imaginary line that runs from top to bottom and front to back.

It divides the body into a right  section and a left section.

The midsagittal plane is the specific  sagittal plane that runs through exactly  

the midline of the body and it divides the  body into equal right and left portions.

It is also known as the median plane.

Mid, median, and middle all start with the letter "M"

and this can help you remember the midsagittal plane  runs right down the middle or midline of the body.

The pictures on your screen are  examples of a midsagittal plane.

A parasagittal plane is any of  the sagittal planes off-center  

and it divides the body into  unequal right and left portions.

Parasagittal planes run parallel  or alongside the midsagittal plane  

but are not in the midline as  we can see in the new picture.

Remember in our medical prefix  video we said that the prefix “para”  

means alongside, beside, or nearby.

So it makes sense that the parasagittal plane  

is a sagittal plane that runs  alongside the midsagittal plane.

An easy way to remember which plane  is the sagittal plane is to think of

sagittal and side view. They  both start with the letter “S”.

And when you make a cut through the sagittal  plane, you are looking at a side view of the body.

Let’s take a look at some examples  to make sure we understand this.

If we take the picture of the man

and make a cut through the midsagittal plane,

and then spin the right and  left sections that we just cut,

you can see we are looking  at a side view of the body.

In other words, these are examples of sagittal sections that were cut through the sagittal plane.

You might also remember from the  video on cranial bones and sutures  

that there is a suture called the sagittal suture.

It gets its name because the sagittal suture  runs from front to back in the sagittal plane.

It is where the right and left  parietal bones of the skull meet.

So this could help you remember  the sagittal plane as well.

Moving on to the coronal plane,  

this is the “C” in our abbreviation SCT which  helps us remember the 3 major planes of the body.

The coronal plane is also  called the frontal plane.

And as we mentioned earlier,  it’s also a vertical line.

The imaginary line runs from top to bottom and right to left.

It divides the body into a front  section and a back section.

The easy way to remember the frontal plane  is to again use the name. The frontal plane  

will give you a front view of the body as it  divides the body into front and back portions.

And just to review, remember the sagittal  plane will give you a side view of the body  

and they both start with the letter “S”.

You might also remember from the  video on cranial bones and sutures

that there is a suture called the coronal suture.

It gets its name because the coronal suture  runs from right to left in the coronal plane.

It is where the frontal and  parietal bones of the skull meet.

And this could help you remember the coronal plane as well.

Finally we have the transverse plane,  which is the “T” in our abbreviation  

SCT to help us remember the  3 major planes of the body.

The transverse plane is also called  the axial plane or horizontal plane

which makes sense because it is a horizontal line.

You can remember the “X” in axial  to help you remember the transverse  

plane runs along the “X” axis  which is the horizontal axis.

The transverse plane runs from  right to left and front to back.

And it divides the body into a top  section and a bottom section.

The easy way to remember the transverse plane  is to again use the name. The transverse plane  

will give you a top view of the body as it  divides the body into upper and lower portions.

And just to review the frontal plane  will give you a front view of the body.

And the sagittal plane will give  you a side view of the body.

Here are a couple more tricks to  remember the transverse plane.

If you divide the body into a top and  bottom section using a transverse plane,

you will be left with an  upper body shaped like a “T”

and a lower body shaped like an upside down “V”

and the T and V can help you remember transverse.

We also learned in our medical prefix  video that the prefix “trans” means across.

And finally, we said the transverse plane  is also called the horizontal plane.

You can think of the horizon for horizontal plane  

and this will help you remember  that it goes across horizontally.

There are a couple other  planes you might hear about.

The first term is a longitudinal plane.

A longitudinal plane is any plane that  is perpendicular to the transverse plane.

We can see in our diagram that  the sagittal and coronal planes  

run perpendicular to the transverse plane.

Therefore, both the coronal and sagittal  planes are examples of longitudinal planes.

A simple trick to remember longitudinal  planes is to think of the globe’s  

longitudinal lines that run up and  down and this will help you remember  

the longitudinal planes run vertically  or perpendicular to the transverse plane.

Finally, you might also hear  of planes that are oblique.

An oblique plane is any plane that  is not horizontal or vertical.

In other words, an oblique plane is any  plane that is not in any of the sagittal,  

coronal, or transverse planes.

They can run at any angle through the body as  long as they are not horizontal or vertical  

as that would mean that they are  one of the other major planes.

You can think of your oblique  muscles that travel at an angle.

Or you can think of oblique and odd,  which both start with the letter “O”  

and this can help you remember oblique planes are  odd and travel at strange angles.

Hopefully this helped you better  understand the anatomical position  

along with body planes and sections.

If you found the video useful please hit  the like button and comment down below.

Make sure to subscribe to not miss out  on future medical topics made easy.

And as always, you can find all of the  notes and pictures for this video on  

the website linked down below in the description.

Thanks for watching and hope  you check out future videos.