Which plane divides the animal into two equal halves?

The median plane is the anatomical term used to describe the vertical plane that divides an animal's body into two equal halves: left and right. This plane runs down the center of the organism and is fundamental in both veterinary anatomy and clinical practice as it provides a reference point for describing locations and orientations on the body. When discussing surgeries, diagnostics, or anatomical landmarks, the median plane is crucial for precise communication about which side of the body is being referred to or treated.

In contrast, the frontal plane divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) sections, the transverse plane separates the body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) parts, and the coronal plane is synonymous with the frontal plane, emphasizing the separation of the body into front and back portions. Thus, these other terms serve different functional roles in anatomical descriptions and do not create equal halves of the body like the median plane does.