Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Chapter 9 Human Body Orientation 433
Recall Activity
1. Which body plane divides the body into equal left and right halves? ________________________________
2. Which body plane divides the body into unequal left and right sections? ____________________________
Concept 4: Frontal Plane
The
frontal plane
divides the body into front (ventral) and back (dorsal) sections.
The frontal plane starts at the top of the head and continues down through the
body (Figure 9.4). The sections on either side of the plane are not equal. The
frontal plane is also called the coronal plane.
frontal plane a body plane
that divides the body into
front (ventral) and back
(dorsal) sections; also
called the coronal plane
Front (ventral)
section
Frontal (coronal)
plane
Back (dorsal)
section
© Body Scientific International
Figure 9.4 The frontal plane divides the body into front and back sections.
Recall Activity
1. The __________________________ plane divides the body into front and back sections.
2. True or False. The sections on either side of the frontal plane are not equal. _________________________
Concept 5: Transverse Plane
The
transverse plane
divides the body into top and bottom sections. The trans-
verse plane passes through the middle of the body, starting at one arm and
continuing through the body to the opposite arm (Figure 9.5). Sections of the
body divided by the transverse plane are called cross-sections.
transverse plane a body
plane that divides the
body into top and bottom
sections