What does the sagittal plane divide the body into?

The sagittal plane is an important concept in anatomy and human movement analysis. It divides the body into right and left segments, running vertically from the top of the head to the bottom of the feet. This plane is essential when analyzing movements such as walking, running, or any lateral movements, as it helps in understanding how the body moves and operates in relation to itself.

Movements that occur in the sagittal plane include flexion and extension, which pertain to bending and straightening actions that occur around the body's joints. For instance, when you perform a bicep curl or a squat, these movements are analyzed in the context of the sagittal plane.

The other options refer to different anatomical planes: the anterior and posterior segments relate to the frontal plane, which divides the body into front (anterior) and back (posterior) portions. Upper and lower segments pertain to the transverse plane, which separates the body into top (superior) and bottom (inferior) parts. Internal and external segments do not correspond to any standard anatomical planes. Understanding these distinctions among planes is vital for fitness training, rehabilitation, and assessing human movement.