sagittal

Sagittal is an anatomical term relating to the sagittal plane, a vertical plane that divides the body into left and right portions. The midsagittal plane is the specific sagittal plane that splits the body into equal left and right halves, while other planes parallel to it are called parasagittal. The term derives from Latin sagittalis, meaning arrow-shaped, reflecting the plane’s orientation.

In anatomy and physiology, the sagittal plane is a standard reference for describing body movements and sections. Movements such as flexion and extension commonly occur in the sagittal plane, and injuries, surgeries, and imaging are often described in relation to this plane.

The term sagittal appears in several anatomical landmarks. The sagittal suture is a fibrous joint on the skull where the parietal bones meet along the midline; it typically fuses in adulthood. The sagittal crest is a prominent bony ridge found in some species, running along the top of the skull. The superior sagittal sinus is a major venous channel along the midline, running within the dura mater and draining cerebral blood toward the larger venous system.

In radiology and medical imaging, a sagittal image or sagittal plane view presents slices oriented parallel to this plane. Sagittal views are used in MRI, CT, and other imaging modalities to examine left-right relationships in the brain, spine, and other structures. The sagittal plane is often contrasted with the coronal plane (dividing anterior and posterior) and the transverse or axial plane (dividing superior and inferior).