What term describes an imaginary line dividing the body into left and right parts?

The term that describes an imaginary line dividing the body into left and right parts is the sagittal plane. This plane runs vertically from front to back and separates the body into two sides. It can create two symmetrical halves when the midline is referred to, which is often called the midsagittal plane.

Understanding the sagittal plane is crucial in anatomy and medical scenarios, as it helps to describe movement and location of structures relative to each other. For example, movements such as flexion and extension primarily occur in the sagittal plane, and anatomical descriptions often utilize this plane to convey information about body parts.

In contrast, the coronal plane divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) sections; the transverse plane separates the body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) parts; while the longitudinal plane usually refers to a lengthwise division that can be associated with various orientations. Each of these other planes has specific applications in anatomy and movement analysis, but for the purpose of dividing the body into left and right parts, the sagittal plane is the accurate term.