Radiographic Planes and Positions

1. Coronal Plane or Frontal Plane- any plane that divides the body into anterior and posterior sections.
* Mid-coronal Plane - divides the body into equal anterior and posterior portions.
* Mid-axillary Plane - a coronal plane that passes through the axilla at the junction of the arm and when the body when the arm is at 90 degrees of the body.
2. Sagittal Plane - any plane that divides the patient into right and left portions. It is also termed as “Median Plane”.
*Mid-Sagittal Plane - divides the body into equal left and right.
3. Transverse or Horizontal Plane - any horizontal plane passing through the body at the right angle to the coronal or sagittal plane, dividing the px into superior and inferior sections.
4. Oblique Plane - defined as any plane that is not classified as coronal, sagittal or transverse.
* It may be anywhere in the body and it is usually used in MRI and Ultrasound.