Which body plane divides the body into top and bottom sections?

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

Answer: (C)

Understanding body planes helps describe orientation in anatomy. The plane that divides the body into top (superior) and bottom (inferior) parts is the transverse plane. It runs horizontally across the body, perpendicular to the long axis, effectively giving a cross-section that separates upper from lower portions. In contrast, the frontal (coronal) plane separates front (anterior) from back (posterior), and the sagittal plane separates left from right (with the mid-sagittal plane splitting the two sides equally). Coronal is often used synonymously with frontal. Some texts also call the transverse plane the axial plane.