Which term refers to a plane that runs vertically from front to back in the body?

The term that refers to a plane running vertically from front to back in the body is known as the sagittal plane. This plane divides the body into left and right sections and is oriented vertically, running parallel to the body's midline. It helps in understanding anatomical orientations and movements, such as flexion and extension, which occur in this plane.

In contrast, the frontal plane (also known as the coronal plane) divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) sections. The median plane (or mid-sagittal plane) is a specific type of sagittal plane that runs exactly down the midline of the body, creating equal left and right halves. The transverse plane, on the other hand, divides the body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) parts. This distinction is essential in fields like anatomy and medicine for describing locations and movements within the body accurately.