PLANOS Y EJES ANATÓMICOS. Sagital - Coronal - Transversal. MOVIMIENTOS CORPORALES

Understanding Anatomical Planes and Axes

Introduction to Anatomical Planes

• The discussion begins with an illustration that explains the concept of anatomical planes, focusing on three main components: the plane itself (the yellow sheet), the axes (black arrows), and the movements associated with each plane.

Sagittal Plane

• The sagittal or medial plane is defined as an imaginary anatomical cut that divides the body into left and right halves. Both terms are used interchangeably.

• Understanding why it’s called "sagittal" involves a brief review of cranial anatomy, particularly the sutures connecting skull bones.

• The parietal bones are highlighted in relation to their position in the skull, with emphasis on how they relate to other bones like the frontal and occipital bones.

• The sagittal suture connects both parietal bones; this line serves as a reference for dividing the body into left and right sections.

• Movements in this plane include flexion and extension, observed from a lateral view of the body using a transverse axis.

Coronal Plane

• The coronal or frontal plane divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) halves. It is more commonly referred to as the coronal plane.

• This section discusses how to identify this plane through its corresponding suture—the coronal suture separating parietal from frontal bones.

• Imagining a line parallel to this suture helps visualize how it divides the body into front and back sections.

• The anteroposterior axis runs from back to front, facilitating movements such as abduction (moving away from midline) and adduction (moving towards midline).

• A clear distinction is made between abduction ("to open") versus adduction ("to close"), especially regarding limb movement.

Transverse Plane

• The transverse or horizontal/axial plane separates the body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) parts.

• This section introduces its corresponding vertical axis, which runs from head to feet—referred to as craniocaudal.

Understanding Anatomical Planes and Movements

Overview of Anatomical Movements

• The discussion begins with an explanation of movements in anatomical planes, particularly focusing on rotational movements that can be observed within these planes.

• It is noted that there are various names for each anatomical plane and axis, which may lead to confusion; however, remembering key sutures like the sagittal and coronal sutures can aid in understanding.

• The sagittal plane divides the body into left and right halves, while the coronal plane separates it into anterior (front) and posterior (back) sections.

• The horizontal or transverse plane divides the body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) parts, providing a comprehensive view of how these planes interact with different tissues.