Which movements occur in the sagittal plane?

The sagittal plane divides the body into left and right halves, and movements that occur within this plane are primarily concerned with forward and backward actions. Key movements that take place in this plane include flexion and extension.

Extension refers to the movement that increases the angle between body parts, such as straightening a limb at a joint, which typically occurs in the sagittal plane. For example, when a person stands up from a seated position, they are performing extension of the knees and hips.

While flexion is also a movement that occurs in the sagittal plane—decreasing the angle between body parts—the question only identifies one option as the answer. Knowing this, the focus on extension as a significant sagittal plane movement underscores its relevance in many functional activities, like walking, running, and lifting.

Adduction and abduction movements, on the other hand, occur in the frontal plane, which involves motions moving toward or away from the midline of the body. Thus, recognizing that flexion and extension are the key actions in the sagittal plane clarifies why extension is selected as the focal answer to the question regarding movements within this anatomical context.