Activity 6
PLANES AND SECTIONS
By GEORGETTE E. ZALDIVAR
What is the importance of studying organs or the body at different planes and sections?
The human body is set in such a way that its various section can be studied relative to planes, which are the imaginary flat surfaces or lines that are drawn across the body. Planes, in conjunction with anatomy, are used to describe specific regions of the body subdivided into the sagittal plane, coronal or frontal plane, transverse or cross-sectional plane, and oblique plane.
As student nurses, it is essential to grasp the different planes of dissection in order to comprehend the level of the body being worked at entirely, how structures are placed adjacent to one another, and to interact with those around them. The placements of the patient's internal organs can subsequently be determined and pinpointed using the planes. Body planes are the underlying concept behind important medical technologies, such as medical imaging techniques, which include sonography, CT scans, MRI scans, and PET scans.