Kroppshalvdeler

Kroppshalvdeler, in Swedish anatomy, refers to the two halves of the body divided by an imaginary midline along the sagittal plane. The terms describe left and right portions of the body and are used to locate structures, plan surgical approaches, and interpret medical images. The concept assumes bilateral symmetry in development, but in practice the halves are not perfectly identical.

The division is most commonly associated with the sagittal or median plane, which runs longitudinally from the front to the back of the body. The equal division is the midsagittal plane, while a parasagittal plane divides the body into left and right portions that are not equal. In clinical contexts, the left half and the right half are used to describe the relative position of organs, tissues, and injuries.

In humans, the halves are not perfectly mirrored. For example, the heart is located primarily in the left half of the thorax, while the liver resides largely on the right side, and the spleen on the left. Such asymmetries are normal and have developmental and functional explanations. There are also anatomical variations, such as situs inversus, where the major visceral organs are mirrored, and dextrocardia, where the heart is positioned on the right.

Kroppshalvdeler are a foundational concept in anatomy, physiology, radiology, and surgery, aiding clear communication about location and orientation. They help describe planes of section, imaging findings, and the spatial relationships of structures relative to the body's midline.