The transverse plane is an imaginary plane that divides the body into superior and inferior parts. It is perpendicular to the coronal and sagittal planes.

It is one of the planes of the body used to describe the location of body parts in relation to each other. The other two commonly used terms are the coronal plane and the sagittal plane

Sagittal plane

Sagittal plane is a vertical plane which passes from front to rear dividing the body into right and left sections.-Variations:Examples include:...

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List of Clinically Relevant Anatomical Planes

• Transverse thoracic plane
  Thoracic plane
  The thoracic plane or transthoracic plane is a geometric plane used to divide the mediastinum into the superior mediastinum and the inferior mediastinum....
  
  
• Xiphosternal plane (aka Xiphosternal Junction)
• Transpyloric plane
  Transpyloric plane
  An upper transverse line also known as Addison's Plane, is located halfway between the jugular notch and the upper border of the pubic symphysis; this indicates the margin of the transpyloric plane, which in most cases cuts through the pylorus, the tips of the ninth costal cartilages and the lower...
  
  
• Subcostal plane
  Subcostal plane
  The subcostal plane is a transverse plane which bisects the body at the level of the costal margin.-External links:* http://www.liv.ac.uk/HumanAnatomy/phd/mbchb/travel/surface1.html* http://www.qub.ac.uk/cskills/Abd%20exam.htm...
  
  
• Umbilical plane
  Umbilical plane
  The umbilical plane is the transverse plane passing through the umbilicus.This is similar to the location of the mid-transverse plane, which is the transverse plane made through the waist, into roughly two halves: the torso, arms and head on the top, and the pelvis and legs at the bottom. That is...
  
  (or Transumbilical Plane)
• Supracristal plane
  Supracristal plane
  Supracristal plane is an anatomical transverse plane lying at the upper most part of the pelvis, the iliac crest. This is usually at the level of the L4 vertebrae...
  
  
• Intertubercular plane (aka Transtubercular Plane)
• Interspinous plane
  Interspinous plane
  The interspinous plane is a transverse plane which transverses the anterior superior iliac spines.-External links:* http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/_/viewer.aspx?path=dorland&name=plane.jpg...
  
  

Clinically Relevant Anatomical Planes with Associated Structures

• The transverse thoracic plane
  Thoracic plane
  The thoracic plane or transthoracic plane is a geometric plane used to divide the mediastinum into the superior mediastinum and the inferior mediastinum....
  
  
  • Plane through T4 & T5 Vertebral Junction and Sternal Angle
    Sternal angle
    The sternal angle or 'angle of Louis', from the Latin angulus Ludovici is the anterior angle formed by the junction of the manubrium and the body of the sternum in the form of a secondary cartilaginous joint . This is also called the manubriosternal joint or Angle of Louis...
    
     of Louis.
  • Marks the:
    • Attachment of Rib 2 at the Sternal Angle
      Sternal angle
      The sternal angle or 'angle of Louis', from the Latin angulus Ludovici is the anterior angle formed by the junction of the manubrium and the body of the sternum in the form of a secondary cartilaginous joint . This is also called the manubriosternal joint or Angle of Louis...
      
      ;
    • Arch of Aorta(beginning and end);
    • Upper margin of SVC
      SVC
      SVC or .svc may refer to:* A computer file extension used by Microsoft's Windows Communication Foundation to represent a service hosted by Internet Information Services* IBM SAN Volume Controller, a hardware and software storage virtualization solution...
      
      ;
    • Thoracic Duct crossing;
    • Tracheal Bifurcation;
    • Pulmonary Trunk Bifurcation;

• The xiphosternal plane (aka xiphosternal junction)
  • Anterior, inferior limit of thoracic cavity;
  • Marks the:
    • Superior surface of the liver;
    • Respiratory Diaphragm;
    • Inferior border of the heart;

• The transpyloric plane
  Transpyloric plane
  An upper transverse line also known as Addison's Plane, is located halfway between the jugular notch and the upper border of the pubic symphysis; this indicates the margin of the transpyloric plane, which in most cases cuts through the pylorus, the tips of the ninth costal cartilages and the lower...
  
  
  • Plane located halfway between the jugular notch and the upper border of the symphysis pubis;
  • Typically located at the lower border of L1;
  • Cuts through the pylorus and the tips of the ninth costal cartilages;

• The subcostal plane
  Subcostal plane
  The subcostal plane is a transverse plane which bisects the body at the level of the costal margin.-External links:* http://www.liv.ac.uk/HumanAnatomy/phd/mbchb/travel/surface1.html* http://www.qub.ac.uk/cskills/Abd%20exam.htm...
  
  
  • Transverse plane through the inferior border of costal margin;
  • Typically located at the superior border of L3, or transects L3;

• The umbilical plane
  Umbilical plane
  The umbilical plane is the transverse plane passing through the umbilicus.This is similar to the location of the mid-transverse plane, which is the transverse plane made through the waist, into roughly two halves: the torso, arms and head on the top, and the pelvis and legs at the bottom. That is...
  
  (or transumbilical plane)
  • Located at the level of L3/L4 vertebral junction or IV disc;

• The supracristal plane
  Supracristal plane
  Supracristal plane is an anatomical transverse plane lying at the upper most part of the pelvis, the iliac crest. This is usually at the level of the L4 vertebrae...
  
  
  • Located at the level of L4;
  • Marks bifurcation of Aorta;
  • Most superior aspect of Iliac Crest;

• The intertubercular plane (aka Transtubercular Plane)
  • Located at the level of L4;
  • Marks origin of IVC;

• The interspinous plane
  Interspinous plane
  The interspinous plane is a transverse plane which transverses the anterior superior iliac spines.-External links:* http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/_/viewer.aspx?path=dorland&name=plane.jpg...
  
  
  • Transverse plane which transverses the anterior superior iliac spines.
  • Typically located at the level of S1.

See also

• Anatomical terms of location
  Anatomical terms of location
  Standard anatomical terms of location are designations employed in science that deal with the anatomy of animals to avoid ambiguities that might otherwise arise. They are not language-specific, and thus require no translation...
  
  
• Horizontal plane
  Horizontal plane
  In geometry, physics, astronomy, geography, and related sciences, a plane is said to be horizontal at a given point if it is perpendicular to the gradient of the gravity field at that point— in other words, if apparent gravity makes a plumb bob hang perpendicular to the plane at that point.In...
  
  
• Coronal plane
• Sagittal plane
  Sagittal plane
  Sagittal plane is a vertical plane which passes from front to rear dividing the body into right and left sections.-Variations:Examples include:...