Axis (anatomy)

In anatomy, the term axis refers to the straight line around which an object rotates.

Anatomical axes

Example

For example, the movement of the body to the front is called anterior and to the back is called posterior and the axis in which this movement happens is called antero-posterior.

Planes and axis(s) in anatomy

• Medial-Lateral Axis (ML) refers to the movement in the sagittal plane
• Anteroposterior axis refers to the movement in transverse plane and
• Longitudinal Axis refers to the movement in axial plane

Planes

Coronal Plane (Frontal Plane) - A vertical plane running from side to side; divides the body or any of its parts into anterior and posterior portions.

Human head anatomical planes letter annotations

Sagittal Plane (Lateral Plane) - A vertical plane running from front to back; divides the body or any of its parts into right and left sides.

Axial Plane (Transverse Plane) - A horizontal plane; divides the body or any of its parts into upper and lower parts.

Median plane - Sagittal plane through the midline of the body; divides the body or any of its parts into right and left halves.

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