Final answer:
For a midline ovariohysterectomy, the patient is positioned in ventral recumbency. The midsagittal plane is the anatomical term that refers to a plane dividing an animal into equal right and left portions.
Step-by-step explanation:
For a midline ovariohysterectomy, the patient is positioned in ventral recumbency. This means that the animal is lying on its belly, allowing the veterinary surgeon access to the abdominal cavity through a midline incision. When performing this procedure, it's essential for the patient to be in this position to provide optimal exposure of the surgical site and facilitate the operation.
Additionally, addressing the student's related question regarding a plane that divides an animal into equal right and left portions, the answer is midsagittal (also commonly referred to as the midline). The midsagittal plane is an anatomical plane that runs vertically along the body, dividing it into equal right and left halves. This is distinct from the coronal plane, which divides the body into dorsal (back) and ventral (belly) parts, and the transverse plane, which divides the body into cranial (head-end) and caudal (tail-end) portions.