In anatomical terms, which plane divides the body into left and right portions?

• A. Frontal
• B. Transverse
• C. Sagittal
• D. Coronal

Answer: (C)

The plane that divides the body into left and right portions is the sagittal plane. It runs vertically from head to toe and is parallel to the midline of the body. When a sagittal plane passes exactly through the midline, it’s called the midsagittal (or median) plane, producing equal left and right halves. In contrast, the frontal (coronal) plane divides the body into front and back portions, and the transverse (horizontal) plane divides it into upper and lower portions. A helpful image is a vertical slice that could separate your left side from your right side.