In neuroanatomy, a horizontal section is defined as a cut at right angles to the midline that divides the body into which portions?

In neuroanatomy, a horizontal section is defined as a cut at right angles to the midline that divides the body into which portions?

• A. A cut parallel to the midline dividing the body into anterior and posterior portions.
• B. A cut at right angles to the midline and dividing the body into superior and inferior portions.
• C. A cut that divides the body into left and right halves.
• D. A cut along the front-to-back axis.

Answer: (B)

Think about how planes are positioned relative to the body's long axis. A horizontal (transverse) section runs across the body and is perpendicular to that long axis, so it slices the brain into an upper part and a lower part. That means the resulting pieces are described as superior and inferior portions. The other described orientations would cut to separate front from back or left from right, not top from bottom. So the option defining a cut at right angles to the midline that yields superior and inferior parts best matches a horizontal/transverse plane.

Think about how planes are positioned relative to the body's long axis. A horizontal (transverse) section runs across the body and is perpendicular to that long axis, so it slices the brain into an upper part and a lower part. That means the resulting pieces are described as superior and inferior portions. The other described orientations would cut to separate front from back or left from right, not top from bottom. So the option defining a cut at right angles to the midline that yields superior and inferior parts best matches a horizontal/transverse plane.