Body Planes and Sections: Frontal, Sagittal, Oblique, Transverse | Anatomy and Physiology

Summary

This educational video script delves into the concept of body planes in anatomy and physiology, crucial for healthcare professionals interpreting medical images. It introduces four primary body planes: sagittal, oblique, frontal, and transverse, remembered by the acronym 'SOFT'. The script explains each plane's orientation and function, using mnemonics like 'sagittal suture' for the sagittal plane and 'trans' for the transverse plane. It also clarifies oblique planes as any angle not vertical or horizontal, likened to 'odd angles'. The script concludes with a quiz offer and a teaser for more anatomy and physiology content.

Takeaways

• 🔍 Body planes are imaginary flat surfaces that help divide the body into portions for better understanding in anatomy and physiology.
• 🧠 The acronym 'SOFT' stands for Sagittal, Oblique, Frontal, and Transverse planes, which are the four major types of body planes.
• 📏 Sagittal planes are vertical and divide the body into left and right portions, similar to the sagittal suture on the skull.
• 🔄 Parasagittal planes are variations of the sagittal plane that do not run perfectly down the midline.
• 🌐 Oblique planes are at odd angles, not parallel or perpendicular to the body's vertical or horizontal axes.
• 🏞️ Transverse planes, also known as horizontal planes, divide the body into superior and inferior halves.
• 🏰 Frontal planes, or coronal planes, are vertical and separate the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) sections.
• 🔑 The prefix 'mid' in 'midsagittal' indicates a plane that divides the body perfectly down the midline.
• 🤔 The terms 'trans' in 'transverse' and 'frontal' in 'frontal plane' can be remembered through association with 'across' and 'front', respectively.
• 📚 A free quiz is available for viewers to test their knowledge on body planes, reinforcing the concepts discussed in the script.

Q & A

What are body planes?

Body planes are imaginary flat surfaces that divide the body into two portions, used to understand different ways the body can be viewed when cut into sections, which is useful for healthcare professionals analyzing images from imaging devices like MRI machines.

What is the acronym SOFT and what does it stand for?

SOFT is an acronym used to remember the four major types of body planes: Sagittal, Oblique, Frontal, and Transverse.

Which body planes are considered vertical?

The Sagittal and Frontal planes are considered vertical as they run from top to bottom of the body.

How does the Transverse plane differ from other body planes?

The Transverse plane is unique as it is the only horizontal plane, dividing the body into a top (superior) and bottom (inferior) half.

What is the significance of the Sagittal suture in relation to the Sagittal plane?

The Sagittal suture on the skull divides it into left and right sides, which helps to remember that the Sagittal plane divides the body into left and right portions.

What is a midsagittal or median plane?

A midsagittal or median plane is a type of Sagittal plane that perfectly divides the body down the midline.

What are Oblique planes and how are they characterized?

Oblique planes are any planes that are at an angle other than vertical or horizontal. They can be any type of angle, characterized by not being parallel or at a right angle.

What is the Frontal plane also known as and what does it divide the body into?

The Frontal plane is also known as the Coronal plane, and it divides the body into a front (anterior) and back (posterior) section.

How can one remember the orientation of the Transverse plane?

The Transverse plane can be remembered by the prefix 'trans' meaning across, like transatlantic, or by thinking of the horizon which is a horizontal line.

What is the purpose of using body planes in anatomy and physiology?

Body planes are used in anatomy and physiology to standardize the orientation of the body for study and to facilitate the understanding of the body's structure and function as seen in medical imaging.

Outlines

00:00

🧍‍♂️ Understanding Body Planes in Anatomy

This paragraph introduces the concept of body planes and sections in anatomy and physiology, which are essential for healthcare professionals when analyzing medical images such as MRI scans. It explains the use of an imaginary flat surface, resembling a glass rectangle, to divide the body into two portions. The paragraph outlines the four major types of body planes: Sagittal, Oblique, Frontal, and Transverse, which are remembered using the acronym 'SOFT'. The Sagittal plane is described as vertical, dividing the body into left and right portions, with the midsagittal or median plane being a specific type that divides the body down the midline. Oblique planes are characterized by their non-vertical and non-horizontal angles, likened to the angle of oblique muscles. The Transverse plane is the only horizontal plane, dividing the body into superior and inferior halves. Lastly, the Frontal or Coronal plane is another vertical plane that divides the body into anterior and posterior sections. The paragraph concludes with a recap using a character named Jane the Plane to illustrate the different types of planes.

Keywords

💡Body Planes

Body planes refer to the imaginary flat surfaces that can be used to divide the body into sections. In the video, body planes are essential for understanding the different ways the body can be viewed, especially when analyzing medical images like MRI scans. The script mentions four major types of body planes, which are crucial for healthcare professionals to interpret such images accurately.

💡Sagittal Plane

A sagittal plane is a vertical plane that divides the body into left and right portions. The video uses the example of the sagittal suture on the skull, which divides it into left and right sides, to help viewers remember this concept. The script further explains that a midsagittal or median plane is a specific type of sagittal plane that divides the body down the midline, while a parasagittal plane is off-center.

💡Oblique Plane

Oblique planes are planes that are angled and not parallel to the vertical or horizontal planes. The term 'oblique' is used to describe something at an odd angle, and the video script uses the phrase 'obliques are odd' to help viewers remember this. The script also relates this to the oblique muscles, which run at an angle and are lateral to the abdominal muscles.

💡Transverse Plane

The transverse plane, also known as the horizontal plane, is the only plane that divides the body horizontally into a superior (top) and inferior (bottom) half. The video script uses the prefix 'trans' to mean 'across' and relates it to 'transatlantic' to help viewers remember this concept. It is also associated with the horizon, which is a horizontal line.

💡Frontal Plane

The frontal plane, also called the coronal plane, is a vertical plane that divides the body into an anterior (front) and posterior (back) side. The video script uses the term 'frontal' to emphasize that this plane creates a front and back section when the body is cut. This plane is crucial for understanding the anterior-posterior orientation of body structures.

💡Anatomical Position

Anatomical position is a standard reference position for describing body parts and planes. In the video, the script mentions that when viewed from the anatomical position, certain planes like the sagittal can be identified more easily. This position is essential for healthcare professionals to have a consistent frame of reference when discussing body structures.

💡MRI Machine

An MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) machine is a type of imaging device that produces detailed images of the body's internal structures. The video script mentions that understanding body planes is crucial for analyzing images from an MRI machine, as it helps healthcare professionals interpret the images accurately.

💡Imaging Device

Imaging devices are tools used in healthcare to capture images of the body's internal structures. The video script discusses how body planes are important for analyzing images from various imaging devices, not just MRI machines, but also other types of medical imaging equipment.

💡Acronym SOFT

The acronym SOFT is introduced in the video script as a mnemonic device to remember the four major body planes: Sagittal, Oblique, Frontal, and Transverse. This acronym helps viewers recall the planes in an organized manner and is a teaching tool used to facilitate learning.

💡Parasagittal Plane

A parasagittal plane is a type of sagittal plane that does not run perfectly down the midline of the body. The video script explains that this plane is off-center and uses the term 'para' as a prefix to indicate its position relative to the midsagittal plane. Understanding parasagittal planes is important for precise anatomical descriptions.

💡Midsagittal Plane

The midsagittal plane, also known as the median plane, is a specific sagittal plane that divides the body into equal right and left halves down the midline. The video script uses the prefix 'mid' to indicate that this plane is exactly in the middle, which is a key concept for understanding symmetry in body structures.

Highlights

Body planes and sections are essential for understanding the body's structure, especially in medical imaging.

An imaginary flat surface, like a glass rectangle, divides the body into two portions.

Four major types of body planes: sagittal, oblique, frontal, and transverse.

The acronym 'SOFT' stands for Sagittal, Oblique, Frontal, and Transverse planes.

Sagittal planes are vertical and divide the body into left and right portions.

The sagittal suture on the skull is a mnemonic for the sagittal plane's function.

Midsagittal or median planes divide the body down the midline.

Parasagittal planes are off-center sagittal planes.

Oblique planes are at odd angles, not horizontal or vertical.

Oblique muscles are an example of the oblique plane's angle.

Transverse planes are horizontal, dividing the body into superior and inferior halves.

The prefix 'trans' in transverse means across, like the horizon.

Frontal planes run vertically and divide the body into anterior and posterior sides.

The frontal plane is also known as the coronal plane.

A random plane angle that is neither vertical nor horizontal is an oblique plane.

Jane the Plane is a mnemonic device used to help remember the different body planes.

A free quiz is available to test knowledge on body planes.

More anatomy and physiology videos are planned for future educational content.

Transcripts

in an atom or physiology the body planes

and sections help us understand the

different ways in which the body can be

viewed when cut into sections this is

something many healthcare professionals

use for example when analyzing images

from an MRI machine or other type of

imaging device when thinking of a body

plane picture an imaginary flat surface

resembling a glass rectangle which

divides the body into two portions now

there are four major types of body

planes that you need to know for most of

your anatomy and physiology courses and

a super easy way to remember these is to

remember the acronym soft which stands

for sagittal oblique frontal and

transverse planes two of these planes

are vertical running from top to bottom

and these are the sagittal and frontal

planes one plane is horizontal which is

the transverse plane and the oblique

planes are at odd angles it can be any

type of plane other than a vertical or

horizontal plane first let's talk about

sagittal planes a sagittal plane runs

vertically from top to bottom and it

divides the body into a left and right

portion now this is easy to remember

because on your skull you have what's

called a sagittal suture which divides

it into left and right sides and that's

exactly what this plane does it divides

the body into right and left sides when

viewed from the anatomical position you

can take sagittal planes a step further

and add a prefix to help you identify

the type of sagittal plane for example a

midsagittal or median plane is a

sagittal plane that perfectly divides

the body down the midline

the prefix mid can remind you that it is

right down the middle

a parasagittal plane is any type of

sagittal plane that does not run

perfectly down the midline next we have

oblique planes which are planes that can

literally be any type of angle other

than a horizontal or vertical angle in

fact that's what the word oblique means

it's something that is not parallel or a

rod angle and an easy way to remember

this is just remember the phrase

obliques are odd there are odd angles

and you can also think about your

oblique muscles these muscles come down

and an angle and are located laterally

to your abdominal muscles next we have a

transverse plane also called a

horizontal plane and this is easy to

remember because it is the only plane

that

horizontally dividing the body or

structure into a top or superior and a

bottom or inferior half to remember let

the name help you out the prefix trans

means across think of transatlantic

airlines flying you across the Atlantic

alternatively you can think of the

horizon which is the horizontal boundary

between the earth and the sky

and finally we have the frontal plane

also called a coronal plane and this is

a plane that runs vertically from top to

bottom and it divides the body into a

front or anterior side and a back or

posterior side again let the name help

you out because a frontal plane will

literally leave you with a front and

back section now to help us recap what

we've just learned I'm bringing in my

friend Jane the plane say hello to my

little friend

ok so if I were to take this plane and

go and cut my body into upper and lower

portions

what kind of plane would this be this

would be a transverse or horizontal

plane

remember trans means across and

horizontal think of the horizon if I

took the plane away and cut down my body

this way creating a left and right side

what type of plane would this be this

would be a sagittal plane remember the

sagittal suture on your skull goes like

this and you're cutting right down that

direction now if it's perfectly down the

middle it's mid sagittal or median and

if it's off center say like right here

or right here then that would be a para

sagittal plane now if I turn this way

and let's say I cut like this and cut my

body into a front and back section what

type of plane would that be a frontal or

coronal plane because it creates that

front or back section and then if I were

to create a random plane angle like this

or like this or even like this what type

of plane would that be it would be an

oblique plane oblique or odd angles okay

that wraps up this video on the body

planes thank you so much for watching

don't forget we have a free quiz that

you can use to test your knowledge on

this topic and help lock it into your

brain that'll be in the description

below in addition I plan to make a lot

more anatomy and physiology videos and

you might want to check out some that

we've already made in the playlist below

so thanks for watching