Sagittalt

Sagittalt is an anatomical modifier used to describe structures oriented along the sagittal axis, or a sagittal plane, of the body. The term derives from Latin sagittalis, from sagitta meaning arrow, and is used in many languages to denote planes or features that split the body into left and right portions.

The sagittal plane is a vertical plane that runs from front to back, dividing the body into left and right sides. The midsagittal, or median, plane passes exactly through the midline. Planes parallel to it but offset from the midline are called parasagittal. These terms are used in anatomy, radiology, and surgery to describe orientation and sections.

Anatomically, sagittal orientation appears in several features. The sagittal suture is the fibrous joint along the skull midline between the parietal bones. Some mammals possess a sagittal crest along the top of the skull. The descriptor also applies to tissues, vessels, or other structures aligned with the sagittal axis.

In medical imaging, sagittal views or sections are common in MRI and CT, providing a left-right perspective for evaluating the brain, spine, and other structures. The term also informs comparative anatomy and paleontology when reconstructing specimens along the midline.