Different planes of whole brain

A coronal section of the brain is a vertical slice that divides the brain into anterior (front) and posterior (back) halves, allowing for views of internal structures like the thalamus, lateral ventricles, and corpus callosum. This type of sectioning is commonly used in the study of brain anatomy and in medical imaging with different coronal sections showing different levels, such as through the optic chiasma, mammillary bodies or further back towards the thalamus.

Transverse plane of whole brain

A transverse section (horizontal slice) of the brain can be taken at various levels, depending on the brain region being examined, and it reveals structures like the cerebral cortex, corpus callosum, ventricles, and sometimes the underlying cerebellum. For instance, a transverse section through the midbrain is taken at the level of the superior colliculus or inferior colliculus, while a transverse section of the cerebrum shows the hemispheres, white matter tracts, and C-shaped lateral ventricles.

Sagittal plane of whole brain

A sagittal section of the brain is a slice into left and right, dividing the brain into two cerebral hemispheres. A mid-sagittal section is a specific sagittal plane that passes through the midline, creating equal halves of the brain and allows visualization of structures like the cerebrum, cerebellum, and brainstem.