Final answer:
The three cardinal planes for sectioning the body are the sagittal plane, which divides the body into right and left parts; the frontal (coronal) plane, which divides the body into anterior and posterior sections; and the transverse plane, which divides the body into upper and lower parts.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Three Cardinal Planes of the Body
The sagittal plane is an imaginary line that divides the body into right and left halves. When this division is exactly in the middle, creating two symmetrical halves, it is termed a midsagittal plane. This plane is particularly useful for viewing the medial structures of the body.
The frontal plane, also known as the coronal plane, separates the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) sections. This is instrumental in examining the structures in the frontal aspect of the body or understanding the spatial relationship of body parts in the anterior and posterior compartments.
Lastly, the transverse plane, or horizontal plane, cuts the body into upper and lower portions. It is perpendicular to both the sagittal and frontal planes and is often used to produce cross-sectional images in medical scanning techniques. When the transverse plane is cut at an angle, it's called an oblique plane.