Which term refers to planes that divide the body into superior and inferior parts?

• A. Axial planes
• B. Midsagittal planes
• C. Coronal planes
• D. Parasagittal planes

Answer: (A)

Planes that divide the body into superior (top) and inferior (bottom) parts are the horizontal slices of the body. These are called transverse planes, and in many texts they’re described as axial planes. They run perpendicular to the long axis of the body, giving a cross-section that separates the upper from the lower portions. In contrast, midsagittal planes split the body into left and right halves, coronal planes separate front and back, and parasagittal planes are off-midline sagittal cuts. So the term that best fits for superior–inferior division is axial (transverse) planes.