sagittal
|sag-it-tal|
/ˈsædʒɪtəl/
arrow-like; midline (front-to-back)
Etymology
'sagittal' originates from Medieval Latin, specifically the word 'sagittalis', where the root 'sagitta' meant 'arrow'.
'sagittal' developed from Latin 'sagitta' (meaning 'arrow') into Medieval Latin 'sagittalis' ('of or like an arrow') and was adopted into English as 'sagittal' in anatomical usage.
Initially it meant 'of or pertaining to an arrow'; over time it evolved to mean 'relating to the sagittal plane or midline (arrow-like direction) in anatomy'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
an anatomical plane (the sagittal plane) that divides the body into left and right portions; also used to refer to a sagittal section or view.
The MRI provided clear images in the sagittal plane.
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Adjective 1
relating to or situated in the sagittal plane (running front to back and dividing the body into left and right parts).
The surgeon made a sagittal incision along the midline.
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Last updated: 2026/01/09 22:58