Which plane divides the body into right and left portions?

The plane that divides the body into right and left portions is the sagittal plane. This anatomical plane runs vertically and can be classified into two types: the mid-sagittal or median plane, which divides the body into equal right and left halves, and the parasagittal plane, which divides the body into unequal right and left portions. The primary characteristic of the sagittal plane is its ability to create these divisions without altering the frontal (anterior/posterior) or transverse (superior/inferior) relationships of body parts.

In contrast, the frontal plane (also known as the coronal plane) divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) sections, while the transverse plane divides the body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) portions. Understanding these planes aids in visualizing and describing the locations and movements of different body parts in relation to one another, which is essential in fields such as anatomy, medicine, and physical therapy.