NETA Personal Trainer Practice Exam

What does the sagittal plane divide the body into?

1. Anterior and posterior aspects

2. Upper and lower segments

3. Right and left sides

4. Superficial and deep layers

The correct answer is: Right and left sides

The sagittal plane is a vertical plane that divides the body into right and left sides. This plane runs parallel to the midline of the body, allowing for movements that occur forward and backward, such as flexion and extension. In anatomical terms, when one references the sagittal plane, it directly correlates to movements and positions of the body that occur in the forward or backward direction, focusing on how the body is split into equal or unequal halves along its vertical axis. In contrast, the other choices refer to different planes of division. The anterior and posterior aspects refer to the frontal (coronal) plane, which divides the body into front (anterior) and back (posterior) portions. The upper and lower segments pertain to the transverse (horizontal) plane, which divides the body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) parts. Finally, superficial and deep layers are not defined by a specific anatomical plane but rather describe locations relative to the surface of the body, delineating how far structures are from the surface. Understanding these distinctions helps clarify how the sagittal plane specifically functions within anatomical terminology.