Chapter 3.3 The Transverse Plane

Ch. 3.3: The Transverse Plane

The transverse plane runs horizontally and divides the body into top and bottom parts. The motions in this plane, and around its axis, are lateral and medial rotation.

Written by

Willem Kramer

Published on

June 26, 2025

The transverse plane, also known as the axial or horizontal plane, runs horizontally and divides the body into top and bottom parts. The axis that goes with this plane runs top to bottom and is known as the vertical axis.

Motions in this plane and around its axis are lateral rotation and medial rotation.

The motions of the transverse plane include:

Abduction and adduction of the big toe.
Abduction and adduction of the lesser toes.
Horizontal abduction and adduction of the hip (not included in atlas)
Protraction and retraction of the shoulder girdle.
Horizontal abduction and adduction of the shoulder (not included in atlas).
Pronation and supination of the forearm.

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Willem Kramer

Author

Willem is a Netherlands-educated physiotherapist and a US-licensed massage therapist with over thirty years of experience working with professional athletes, entertainers, and executives. He presents a unique approach that questions the reliance on dissection anatomy in the education of soft-tissue therapists. Willem advocates for a holistic understanding of the body, emphasizing that all organ systems are interconnected and interdependent. His insights offer both practitioners and enthusiasts a fresh perspective on musculoskeletal health.