ACSM Personal Trainer Certification Practice Exam

What does the horizontal plane divide the body into?

1. Anterior and posterior segments

2. Left and right segments

3. Superior and inferior segments

4. Proximal and distal segments

The correct answer is: Superior and inferior segments

The horizontal plane, also known as the transverse plane, divides the body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) segments. This plane runs parallel to the ground and is utilized in various anatomical and physiological contexts to understand body structures and movements in relation to gravity. Understanding planes of movement is essential in exercise science, as it helps in describing how different exercises affect the body. In contrast, the anterior and posterior segments refer to the frontal plane, which divides the body into front and back. The left and right segments are determined by the sagittal plane, which runs vertically and separates the body into left and right halves. Proximal and distal segments are terms used to describe positions relative to the trunk or point of origin in the limbs, but they do not refer to the body divisions created by any specific plane.