What does a transverse plane divide the body into?

The transverse plane is significant in anatomical terminology as it divides the body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) parts. This horizontal plane runs parallel to the ground when a person is in the standard anatomical position, effectively slicing the body into top and bottom halves.

Understanding the planes of the body is fundamental in fields such as anatomy, physical therapy, and medicine, as it helps professionals communicate clearly about locations and movements of various structures. The transverse plane is particularly important for imaging techniques like CT and MRI, which often use this plane to provide clear visualizations of internal anatomy.

The other options relate to different anatomical planes and orientations: the right and left division pertains to the sagittal plane, the anterior and posterior division describes the frontal (or coronal) plane, and superficial and deep are terms that refer to relative positions within layers of tissue rather than anatomical planes.