The plane that divides the body into left and right portions is called which?

• A. A vertical plane dividing left and right
• B. A sagittal plane dividing left and right
• C. A diagonal plane dividing left and right
• D. A horizontal plane dividing upper and lower

Answer: (B)

In anatomy, planes are flat surfaces used to describe sections of the body. The one that runs from front to back and divides the body into left and right portions is the sagittal plane. It’s a vertical orientation, and it specifically separates the two sides, which matches what the question is asking. If it passes exactly down the middle, it’s called the midsagittal or median plane. The horizontal plane divides upper and lower parts, not left and right, and a diagonal or oblique plane isn’t the standard term used to describe a left-right division. So the sagittal plane is the correct, most precise way to name this division.